In today’s fast-paced world, stress and anxiety have become all too common. Whether it’s the excitement of an upcoming wedding, the challenge of a new job, the search for financial stability, or the hurdle of a troubling medical diagnosis, life’s twists and turns can easily induce high levels of stress.

Anxiety, worry, and even panic are all feelings each of us experience, but when those emotions disrupt our lives … it can feel like there is no solution. And it isn’t just the frightening moments. Even exciting life events can lead to unwanted feelings of worry and fear.

Everyone processes stressful situations and emotions differently. But those same situations don’t have to define us. There IS a path to peace, and it’s rooted in a timeless source of wisdom- the Bible! God’s Word provides us with guidance and comfort, showing us how to overcome stress and anxiety with faith, prayer, and practical resources. When we learn how to approach these intense emotions, we can more easily navigate through them.

Feeling stressed about a situation or circumstance is not an inherently bad thing. When we begin to follow the thread of our emotions, we can find we tend to feel worried or anxious about the things that are most important to us. When we value something, it causes strong emotional responses. We feel anxiety about our jobs because we care about doing them well. We worry about people getting sick because we love and care deeply about them.

What this means for us is that when we experience those stressful emotions or anxious feelings, it’s actually an indication that we care so much about it.
1 Peter 5:7 says that we should cast all our cares on God because He cares for us. Just as we care deeply about the things that cause us those feelings, God Himself cares just as deeply about us and the situations that we are dealing with. He cares about ALL of our needs, the big ones and the smaller things. It can be comforting to know that even those things that bring us anxiety are especially important to Him.

You might wonder why a day centered around Jesus nailed to the cross is called “Good.” For Christians, Jesus’ death represents the ultimate act of love and redemption  to save all mankind. He willingly endured the cross to die in our place and opened the door to an eternal relationship with Him.

Romans 5:8 declares, “But God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Without sacrifice, we would be stuck in sin without hope. Good Friday lays the foundation for the triumphant celebration of Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday, making it a crucial part of the Christian faith.

Join us for an exciting and inspiring service this Easter Sunday! For all the information, take a look below

There are different kinds of stress and anxiety that feel different depending on our situation, circumstances, and even our brain chemistry. Different kinds of stress or anxiety can mean we approach each situation with different management techniques. A few types of stress we experience include:

Experiencing major life changes or traumatic situations can naturally lead to feelings of stress, worry, and anxiety about those things. It’s also normal to feel stressed about the things in our daily life like our job or wondering how the bills will be paid. This stress can come and go throughout our lives, but can be more manageable as life situations fluctuate. God reminds us that, even though life can be stressful, He cares about us and He takes care of all our needs. When we’re feeling stressed, we’re invited to bring those things to God.

We can confidently trust in God’s plan. One of the key teachings of the Bible is to trust Him. In times of stress, we remember that He is in control and has a purpose for everything. As Romans 8:28 reminds us, “And we know that in all things God worlds for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”

While everyone experiences some level of stress in their lives, constant anxiety could be a sign of something deeper. One thing to realize is that since over 284 million people around the world experience some kind of anxiety disorder, we can know we’re not alone in this fight. It’s also important to understand anxiety disorders are NOT sin, but something medical and psychological professionals can help treat and give understanding to. God is our great healer, and anything, even anxiety, is healed because of Jesus.

We can also take practical steps to take care of our physical and emotional well-being. Start by finding ways to get enough rest, eat healthily, and engaging in activities that are enjoyable. God cares about EVERY aspect of our lives.

Moments of sudden, intense, and uncontrollable fear and anxiety could be signs of a panic attack. Panic attacks are the body’s response to trauma, but can also be very distressing and disruptive to living everyday life. Medical professionals and counselors can help us understand and treat the causes of panic attacks. It’s also important to remember that seeking assistance from these professions isn’t a sign of weakness or lack of faith. God equipped individuals in these professions to help us when we need extra care, and it can be wisdom to get extra help. Nothing is impossible for God. If He cares so much about the plants and animals of the world, we can trust that He cares enough to heal us and provide for us.

We can learn how to manage and navigate stress in the middle of the chaos of our everyday life. When we’re experiencing stress and anxiety, even if that may be right now, there are things we can do to help manage those emotions.

Feeling stress is normal, but it shouldn’t keep us from living our lives and it shouldn’t keep us living in fear. If we’re bottling up our emotions, they can spill out in unintended ways.

Galatians 6:2 encourages us to “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way, you will fulfill the law of Christ.”

Sharing the things that make us feel stressed or anxious can alleviate the power of those emotions. It is also important to remember that we don’t have to hold onto these emotions and circumstances alone.

What are the things that bring the most stress? Work, relationships, finances, sickness? Find a friend or family member to share those things with. Trusted people can help us hold the burden of stress and remind us of the big picture.

Sometimes it can help to share our worries and anxieties with a pastor. The campus pastors of Faith Church are available for prayer and to listen to the things that are causing those stressful situations. Connecting is as simple as sending an email to info@faithchurch.com, submitting a prayer request through the link https://my.faithchurch.com/prayer, or calling the front office at 314-635-2000.

Feeling trapped by anxiety or panic attacks for long periods of time can benefit from additional support from a counselor, doctor, or a support group that can help us process our emotions and help us find additional processing methods.

Philippians 4:6 says “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

We can confidently find the right people and safely share our stresses and anxieties with them. We can also share them with God, who loves us and wants to hear about everything we experience. Remember, God cares about every aspect of our lives.