Question 1

What causes stress?

Accepted Answer

Luke 22:54-57So they arrested him [Jesus] and led him to the high priest’s home. And Peter followed at a distance. The guards lit a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat around it, and Peter joined them there. A servant girl noticed him in the firelight and began staring at him. Finally she said, “This man was one of Jesus’ followers!” But Peter denied it. “Woman,” he said, “I don’t even know him!”Stress often comes from fear. In Peter’s case, he was still processing Jesus’ unexpected arrest and was afraid of being arrested himself. Peter allowed that fear and stress to control him, which led to his greatest regret—his denial of Jesus.Exodus 18:13-17The next day, Moses took his seat to hear the people’s disputes against each other. They waited before him from morning till evening. . . . “This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.”Overwork is a common source of stress—both for the one who is overworked and for the people around them.1 Samuel 13:7-9Saul stayed at Gilgal, and his men were trembling with fear. Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.Stress and fear often gain momentum as time ticks on. The stressor of time pushed Saul to make a foolish decision.Job 2:7So Satan left the Lord’s presence, and he struck Job with terrible boils from head to foot.Luke 18:35-37As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind beggar was sitting beside the road. . . . So he began shouting, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”Matthew 9:20-21Just then a woman who had suffered for twelve years with constant bleeding came up behind him. She touched the fringe of his robe, for she thought, “If I can just touch his robe, I will be healed.”Sickness, injury, and other physical pains or limitations can be a source of stress.Exodus 16:2-3There, too, the whole community of Israel complained about Moses and Aaron. “If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”Like the scarcity of meat and water in the wilderness, our circumstances and our limitations often cause stress. The Israelites blamed God for their situation, but this did nothing to alleviate their stress—and it insulted the one who could rescue them from that stress.Genesis 3:6, 23The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. . . . So the Lord God banished them from the Garden of Eden, and he sent Adam out to cultivate the ground from which he had been made.Temptation usually creates stress by challenging the truth. When we give in to temptation, the stress seems momentarily alleviated until we realize what we have done and the stress of guilt and shame overwhelms us.Genesis 42:21Speaking among themselves, they said, “Clearly we are being punished because of what we did to Joseph long ago. We saw his anguish when he pleaded for his life, but we wouldn’t listen. That’s why we’re in this trouble.”Jacob’s sons experienced the stress of guilt and regret, a long-term consequence for betraying their brother Joseph years earlier.2 Samuel 11:4David sent messengers to get her [Bathsheba]; and when she came to the palace, he slept with her.2 Samuel 12:7-14Then Nathan said to David, “. . . Why, then, have you despised the word of the Lord and done this horrible deed? For you have murdered Uriah the Hittite with the sword of the Ammonites and stolen his wife. . . .” Then David confessed to Nathan, “I have sinned against the Lord.”When we are confronted with our sin, the weight of stress often pushes us toward repentance and confession.Psalm 109:1-3O God, whom I praise, don’t stand silent and aloof while the wicked slander me and tell lies about me. They surround me with hateful words and fight against me for no reason.Proverbs 17:9Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends.Relationships with both friends and enemies are often a source of stress.Exodus 15:1Then Moses and the people of Israel sang this song to the Lord: “I will sing to the Lord, for he has triumphed gloriously; he has hurled both horse and rider into the sea.”Exodus 16:3“If only the Lord had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.”Shortly after their miraculous deliverance from slavery in Egypt, the people of Israel began complaining that they had been rescued. Their life of slavery was full of suffering, but it was a familiar suffering, and they preferred it to the unknowns of the wilderness. Even the best change often produces stress.James 1:2-4When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.Adversity and the normal problems of life cause stress.Proverbs 12:24Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.Luke 14:28-29“But don’t begin until you count the cost. For who would begin construction of a building without first calculating the cost to see if there is enough money to finish it? Otherwise, you might complete only the foundation before running out of money, and then everyone would laugh at you.”Laziness and poor planning eventually cause stress.Luke 12:48“When someone has been given much, much will be required in return; and when someone has been entrusted with much, even more will be required.”2 Corinthians 11:27-29I have worked hard and long, enduring many sleepless nights. . . . Then, besides all this, I have the daily burden of my concern for all the churches. Who is weak without my feeling that weakness? Who is led astray, and I do not burn with anger?Leadership and responsibility is often stressful.Colossians 3:13Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.Making mistakes causes stress; forgiving the mistakes of others can alleviate stress.Psalm 118:8-9It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in people. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.Jeremiah 17:5This is what the Lord says: “Cursed are those who put their trust in mere humans, who rely on human strength and turn their hearts away from the Lord.”John 15:5“I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.”Human strength is fallible. It is good to persevere and do our best, and it is good to have people we can count on. But if we become arrogant and overconfident in human strength—our own strength or the strength of others—we will become like a branch trying to grow without its vine. Such efforts always end in stress and fruitlessness.Job 31:24“Have I put my trust in money or felt secure because of my gold?”Matthew 6:19-21“Don’t store up treasures here on earth, where moths eat them and rust destroys them, and where thieves break in and steal. Store your treasures in heaven, where moths and rust cannot destroy, and thieves do not break in and steal. Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.”1 Timothy 6:9-10People who long to be rich fall into temptation and are trapped by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is the root of all kinds of evil. And some people, craving money, have wandered from the true faith and pierced themselves with many sorrows.Putting our trust in money ultimately leads to stress and sorrow.Genesis 3:16-17Then he [God] said to the woman, “I will sharpen the pain of your pregnancy, and in pain you will give birth. And you will desire to control your husband, but he will rule over you.” And to the man he said, “Since you listened to your wife and ate from the tree whose fruit I commanded you not to eat, the ground is cursed because of you. All your life you will struggle to scratch a living from it.”Romans 5:15The sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many.Because sin entered our world, many stressors came with it such as difficult work, physical pain, temptation, relational conflict, and the heaviness of grief.

Question 2

What are some of the dangers of stress?

Accepted Answer

Matthew 13:22“The seed that fell among the thorns represents those who hear God’s word, but all too quickly the message is crowded out by the worries of this life and the lure of wealth, so no fruit is produced.”Luke 10:40-41Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.” But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!”Stress can cause us to focus on the trivial and miss the important. As pressure squeezes our perspectives inward, we lose the big picture. Preoccupation with the issues of the moment can blind us to what is really important.Numbers 11:10-15Moses heard all the families standing in the doorways of their tents whining, and the Lord became extremely angry. Moses was also very aggravated. And Moses said to the Lord, “Why are you treating me, your servant, so harshly? Have mercy on me! What did I do to deserve the burden of all these people? Did I give birth to them? Did I bring them into the world? Why did you tell me to carry them in my arms like a mother carries a nursing baby? How can I carry them to the land you swore to give their ancestors? Where am I supposed to get meat for all these people? They keep whining to me, saying, ‘Give us meat to eat!’ I can’t carry all these people by myself! The load is far too heavy! If this is how you intend to treat me, just go ahead and kill me. Do me a favor and spare me this misery!”The intense demands of life have the potential to overwhelm us. The expectations and criticisms of others and the burden of responsibility can threaten to crush even the strongest people.Matthew 26:74-75Peter swore, “A curse on me if I’m lying—I don’t know the man!” And immediately the rooster crowed. Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.Stress can push us to do things we deeply regret.

Question 3

Should Christians expect stress in life?

Accepted Answer

John 16:33“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”Jesus warned us to expect stress. He was no stranger to stress. This world is filled with trials and sorrows that will generate stress in our lives, but we can take comfort that those stressors can never take away our eternal victory.Romans 8:18What we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory he will reveal to us later.James 1:12God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.1 Peter 1:6-7So be truly glad. There is wonderful joy ahead, even though you must endure many trials for a little while. These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world.A faith that has never suffered stress is a faith that has never been truly tested. Testing and trials are uncomfortable, even painful, but those times of testing often bear the greatest fruit in our lives.John 14:27-29“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”Hebrews 12:1-3Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won’t become weary and give up.The peace Jesus offers does not eliminate all stress. Jesus endured so much stress that his sweat became like drops of blood (known to modern science as hematohidrosis). He was well aware of terrible pain he would go through. However, Jesus approached the cross with calmness and clarity because he knew where it would lead in the end. We, too, can have that peace.Philippians 4:6-7Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.Even in times of stress, we can be thankful. We have a God who listens and acts. Nothing is too small for him to care about, and nothing is too large for him to handle.

Question 4

How can I deal with stress?

Accepted Answer

2 Samuel 22:7“In my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I cried to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.”Job 30:20“I cry to you, O God, but you don’t answer. I stand before you, but you don’t even look.”Psalm 42:4-6My heart is breaking as I remember how it used to be . . . Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!Psalm 86:7I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me.1 Peter 5:7Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.There will be stressful times where it feels like God is unjust or silent. Like Job, we can’t see the bigger picture. However, like Job, we can cry out to God, even in our frustration. God cares deeply for us, and he is always listening. He will always answer when the time is right.Philippians 4:6-8Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.God can give us supernatural peace—and often, he calls us to train our minds for peace as well. Negative thoughts will come, but we have a choice about what to do with those thoughts. Stress often snowballs from fear, anxiety, bitterness, and lies. When negative thoughts occur, choose to reframe those thoughts with truth and thankfulness. Fix your mind on what is good.Psalm 62:2He [the Lord] alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will never be shaken.Isaiah 41:10“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”John 14:1“Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, and trust also in me.”John 16:33“I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”We serve a God who is greater than any stress or fear.Matthew 11:28Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”Hebrews 2:18Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested.Hebrews 4:15-16This High Priest of ours understands our weaknesses, for he faced all of the same testings we do, yet he did not sin. So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God. There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.We serve a God who has experienced the weaknesses, temptations, and suffering we go through. He doesn’t merely watch at a distance to judge our failings. He walks with us every step of the way.Ecclesiastes 4:12A person standing alone can be attacked and defeated, but two can stand back-to-back and conquer. Three are even better, for a triple-braided cord is not easily broken.Galatians 6:2-3Share each other’s burdens, and in this way obey the law of Christ. If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important.Philippians 2:4Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.Another step in dealing with stress is to identify others laboring under pressure and help them. Sharing a load often makes the load lighter.2 Samuel 22:7“But in my distress I cried out to the Lord; yes, I cried to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry reached his ears.”Psalm 86:7I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me.Be persistent in prayer. Develop the habit of prayer when things are not stressful so that prayer is automatic when the pressure comes.Mark 6:31Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.Take time to slow down and take a break from pressure-packed situations. Regular times of rest as well as special times of rest will help you endure the stressful times that come.1 Corinthians 6:19-20Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body.Take care of your body. Adequate rest, regular exercise, and proper nutrition are essential to dealing effectively with stress. The stewardship duties God has given you include taking care of your physical dimension.Matthew 11:28-29Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”Allow Jesus to carry your burdens and teach you from his humble and gentle spirit. Jesus’ humility and gentleness counteract the pride and irritability that fuel so much of the conflict and stress in life.Exodus 18:17-18“This is not good!” Moses’ father-in-law exclaimed. “You’re going to wear yourself out—and the people, too. This job is too heavy a burden for you to handle all by yourself.”Mark 6:30-31The apostles returned to Jesus from their ministry tour and told him all they had done and taught. Then Jesus said, “Let’s go off by ourselves to a quiet place and rest awhile.” He said this because there were so many people coming and going that Jesus and his apostles didn’t even have time to eat.Galatians 6:9So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.There is a difference between being “tired of doing what is good” and simply being tired. We should never tire of living a life that honors God, but physically, we have our limits. Moses, Jesus, and the disciples all faced the threat of burnout—and their response was not to power through it. Moses delegated much of his work so he could focus on what was most important. Jesus and the disciples went off to be alone, rest, and get some food. Rest and boundaries are important parts of serving God with endurance.Isaiah 41:10“Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”2 Corinthians 4:9We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed.We will face situations beyond our control. We may even take some punches from life that leave us gasping for breath. But no matter the stress or trial we are going through, we are not alone, and we know who wins in the end.

Question 5

Is stress ever positive?

Accepted Answer

Proverbs 24:10If you fail under pressure, your strength is too small.Luke 4:1-2Then Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan River. He was led by the Spirit in the wilderness, where he was tempted by the devil for forty days. Jesus ate nothing all that time and became very hungry.Romans 5:3-4We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.James 1:2-4When troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.Stress and pressure can make us stronger, teach us endurance, and develop strength of character.

Question 6

What can I learn from stress?

Accepted Answer

2 Corinthians 1:4He [God] comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.2 Corinthians 1:8-9We think you ought to know, dear brothers and sisters, about the trouble we went through in the province of Asia. We were crushed and overwhelmed beyond our ability to endure, and we thought we would never live through it. In fact, we expected to die. But as a result, we stopped relying on ourselves and learned to rely only on God, who raises the dead.Stress exposes our limitations and forces us to rely on God’s limitless power and love. Sharing what we learn from stress can encourage others.Galatians 6:9So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.Our temporary earthly struggles will lead to blessings in the end, both on earth and in eternity. Stress is easier to face when we know the results are worth it.Psalm 86:7I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me.Stress puts great pressure on our health and relationships. It is a warning sign that we are being stretched to our limits and that beyond those limits we could snap. But stress can be positive if we learn and grow from it. Just as a muscle can only grow under stress, so our wisdom and character can only grow under the pressures of life. As we look for what God is teaching us in our stressful times, we will become better equipped to deal with stressful situations in the future.