Fighting Being Overwhelmed and Stressed Out
I do not always know how to deal with stress.
#truth
Yep, I felt so overwhelmed with everything that I just had to get out of the house.
I literally left the house, the girls and Jeremy at home to go to a coffee shop.
I read a fiction book for about 3 hours. And drank coffee.
A very yummy vanilla latte.
All. by. myself.
I spent all afternoon in a coffee shop doing nothing.
I needed that afternoon. It was incredibly refreshing and wonderful. That time helped me feel slightly normal for a few hours.
You see, we live and work overseas.
Our story includes a ton of transition, new situations, huge learning curves, daily feeling out of place, saying goodbyes, and figuring out life in a third world country. Our story includes a lot of stress.
But for those few hours, I wasn’t that person. I just sat and read.
Yet, as much as that time was helpful and I might need to run away again sometime, it didn’t really help me learn how to deal with stress.
When I got home, the stress was still there.
The stress will always be there.
Running away doesn’t change that.
In learning how to deal with stress, the truth is that only God’s Word and His promises to us can bring peace, hope, joy and stress relief.
Remembering, that although our work overseas and our lives in transition are stressful, God already has a plan for our family. He has it under control.
I can mentally rest knowing that this is His job so much more than it is ours.
How to deal with stress
1} He is GREAT. “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom.” Psalm 145:3
2} He is trustworthy and faithful. “The Lord is trustworthy in all he promises and faithful in all he does. The Lord upholds all who fall and lifts up all who are bowed down. The eyes of all look to you, and you give them their food at the proper time. You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” Psalm 145:13-16
3} He has compassion on us. “Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!” Isaiah 30:18
4} Jesus is everything we need. “Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water so that I won’t get thirsty and have to keep coming here to draw water.” John 4:13-15
5} Our sufferings have a purpose. “Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” Romans 5:3-5
6} We can draw near to Him. “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:22-23
7} Every day is new. “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23
8} He is with us through it all. “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior…” Isaiah 43:1-3
9} We need to seek Him. “Seek the Lord and his strength; seek His presence continually!” Psalm 105:4
10} We can sleep in peace. “In peace I will both lie down and sleep; for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.” Psalm 4:8
So, in learning how to deal with stress, I am learning to hold on to the hope that HE is faithful and that I can rest in Him always.
Because God’s Word really is the only way to fight being overwhelmed. God’s Word is how to deal with stress.
A few other posts you might like:
Over all, we know that it is God’s Word is what brings peace, hope, faith and trust.
What verse do you cling to when you are fighting that overwhelmed feeling?
How does God Word help you learn how to deal with stress?
I can’t entirely relate to what you’re dealing with right now but I do know how overwhelming the uncertainty and traveling can be. Even when you know that God has it all under control- we’re still human. I clung to the verse Jer. 29:11. Have you read Ten Peas in a Pod? We read it as a family when we first started traveling to and fro with my husbands’ job. I think you’ll appreciate the story of a traveling ministry family that went were the Lord led, even when they didn’t have resources. They trusted and the Lord always provided. I think it would be very encouraging for you right now. Praying for you & your family as you begin a new adventure.
glad you were about to sneak away for a while. Hope everything goes good. Wish I lived closer I’d totally help you on the french thing!
Oh man, we all need those run away times! I love all of those verses, thanks for posting them!