DON’T STRESS IT - BLESS IT

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As a kid growing up, I would hear people say.  

“I’m too blessed to be stressed.”


I just couldn’t understand what they meant. I’m blessed, but I’m stressed! Well, the kind of stresses kids has in pre-teen years. Do girls like me? Am I going to get beat up again today? Will, I ever pass Algebra? (That one wasn’t easy.) If you look in the dictionary for the term “social awkwardness,” I believe my picture is still there.  


I finally decided that they must be high on something. It was the only explanation I could find. The only people I knew who didn’t have a care in the world were people who didn’t care. They used drugs to get to that place, so. 


As I went on to Bible College and ministry, I would hear people repeat it. 


“I’m too blessed to be stressed.”


Now I think that they are just making God bigger than their problems. They would say to me, “Don’t worry, Russ, God will take care of it.” So I made God bigger than my problems, but my issues were still stressing me out. Was I going to get fired? (As it turned out, yes.) Was my marriage going down the tubes? (As it turned out, yes.). Was my ministry finished before it ever started? (Seemed like it.) Our lives were a nightmare. But I’m supposed to be too blessed to be stressed! What?!? 


I would watch the lives of the people who said this and discover that there was an apparent problem. Their church persona and their everyday persona were not the same things. They were stressed. 


Here’s what Jesus says in 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.” NLT


So here’s the deal. Saying “I’m too blessed to be stressed” isn’t fair to yourself. Jesus said you would see trouble, but in the same sentence, He promises that He will be there for us, that we will be overcomers just like Him. (Rom. 8:37) 


So what can you do? (In this order) 


#1 Admit you are stressed. 

#2 Trust Jesus and pray for His help.

#3 Listen to the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance. (What does the Bible say too?)

#4 Do and rest in what God says.  


Pray: Dear Jesus, I need your help today to turn over the things stressing me to You. Help me to seek You, listen to You, and follow You. In Jesus' Name - AMEN. 



Photo by Luis Villasmil on Unsplash


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