Stress Is Problematic

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.

—James 1:2

Trials—and the stress they bring—are predictable: all of us will encounter them. And stress from trials can be problematic. In fact, it can be one of your worst enemies. It has ruined many lives and relationships. Stress hurts. It has cost some people their health, and others, their happiness.

Yet James said to consider “various trials” to be “all joy.” James’s term for various trials is an interesting word in the Greek language. The phrase can be literally translated as many-colored trials.

James knew that not all trials are alike and that we all react to stress in different ways. In other words, both our trials and our reactions come in many colors. Some people’s response to stress is purple: they allow stress to so beat them up that they come out bruised and battered. Others’ responses are blue: these people allow stress to move them into a state of depression where they just downright feel blue. Others respond to stress with the color green: they see others living seemingly carefree lives and become green with envy. Still others deal with stress with the color red: stress so builds up within them that they react with rage and anger toward those around them. Then there are those whose dealings with stress are yellow: they simply retreat in cowardice into their own little world. And some deal with stress with the color black: for them, everything in their experience becomes dark.

James was reminding us that there are many different kinds of trials and different kinds of reactions to those trials. Some trials are natural: they result from sickness, accidents, disappointments, or other painful circumstances. These trials naturally occur because we live in fleshly bodies in a sinful world. Other trials are supernatural in origin: they come our way because of our faith. Peter reminded us to “not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you” (1 Peter 4:12). Often when we line up with Christ, we line up against the world system around us.

For whatever reason a trial comes and in whatever form, the stress it causes can be problematic. Insurance companies tell us that their top medical claims and prescriptions are for what are called “preventable diseases.” These are the result of sedentary lifestyles and the obesity that often results from stress-induced eating. In other words, high levels of stress foster the tendency to overeat. Too many people today don’t exercise or eat healthily, and the result is an open invitation to stress.

The human body is one of God’s most amazing and miraculous creations, yet, as I stated earlier, life’s trials release certain stress hormones such as adrenaline. These chemical secretions cause the heart to pump faster, producing what is called the “fight or flight response.” In primitive days these chemical changes prepared the body to respond to a weapon-wielding enemy or to fend off attacks of wild beasts. This extra burst of energy and strength enables almost superhuman strength for lifting an automobile off someone in a time of emergency or enabling the child cornered by the schoolyard bully to come out swinging. Problems arise when we do not fight or flee and those chemicals are not released from our body—we are left to deal with lingering stressful physical issues.

Our body, however, provides several indicators or warning signs to help us recognize stress in our lives. There are physical signs: tension, headaches, sleeplessness, changes in appetite, and high blood pressure. There are behavioral signs: a loss of productivity, strained relationships, a struggle to concentrate, and compulsive behavior. There are also emotional signs: depression, fear of failure, withdrawal, and frustration. Finally, there are spiritual signs: difficulty focusing, lack of prayer or Bible reading, and loss of passion. The presence of these warning signs is proof positive that stress in your life has become problematic.

No one is immune to stress and the damage it can cause. Elijah—one of the mightiest men in all the Bible—offers a case study of the sources, symptoms, and solutions to a stress-filled life. Just a few verses after Elijah enjoyed God’s great victory over the false god Baal on Mount Carmel, we find the prophet stressed out and fleeing for his very life (1 Kings 18 and 19).

The stress that came into Elijah’s life had several sources. First, there was forgetfulness. He had just come from one of his greatest victories, and he thought yesterday’s victories would suffice for today’s commitment. Thus, forgetfulness became a source of Elijah’s stress and depression. Another source of stress is fear. Fear is not an action we take; it is a reaction. So is faith. When the crisis comes and our lives are governed by circumstances, we react in fear. However, if our lives are governed by the Lord and our hearts are saturated with Scripture, then faith is the natural response.

Another source of Elijah’s stress was fatigue. He had just spent hours confronting the false prophets on Carmel, and the emotional stress must have been unbelievable. In addition, he had to run from Jezebel all the way to Beersheba, a distance of over one hundred miles. Elijah was exhausted. Fatigue is one of the plagues of modern man today. It often keeps us from thinking clearly and making wise decisions.

Elijah’s story illustrates not only sources of stress but symptoms as well. The first is detachment. Elijah isolated himself. And withdrawing is one of the more blatant symptoms of stress. Unfortunately, we too often treat symptoms instead of sources. We think we can climb out of our doldrums by just getting out and socializing, but those doldrums are a symptom of stress, not a source. Another symptom of too much stress is despondency. Elijah sat under a juniper tree completely stressed out, and he even contemplated suicide. After despondency came defeat, a feeling of worthlessness and self-deprecation. This feeling is followed by deception. Elijah’s faulty thinking led him to believe he was the only living person still standing for God. But God quickly reminded Elijah that He had thousands who had not followed after the false gods of Baal. How easy it is for us when we become stressed not to think correctly!

The good news is that there are also solutions to our stress-filled lives. First, there are practical and physical solutions. The first thing Elijah did about his stress was to get some sleep and have a solid meal. Adequate sleep and proper eating can go a long way in enabling us to deal with stress. But the solution is not simply physical; it is also personal. God asked Elijah, “What are you doing here?” (1 Kings 19:9). I often wonder which word in this question God emphasized. Did He ask, “What are you doing here?” Elijah once had such courage, but now he cowered. Perhaps God asked, “What are you doing here?” Have you ever been in a place where you knew God didn’t want you to be? Or maybe God said, “What are you doing here?” Many of us lose the joy of life by doing nothing. Whatever way God asked the question, Elijah heard that “still small voice” (1 Kings 19:12) calling him to new heights of faith. Our own stress does not have to be a dead end; it can simply be a turn in the road.

Although stress is problematic, there is hope because stress is transitory. On many pages of the Bible is a simple phrase: “And it came to pass.” This stress, too, shall pass! After all, there hasn’t been a sunset yet that hasn’t been followed by a sunrise.