Stress

I should probably study for that economics final, the one that I'm taking tomorrow. The PSAT is coming up in two weeks, I really need to study for that. And then the SAT will be soon after, reading the book for that would be a good idea. Oh, and the chemistry CLEP test? The one that has a 29% pass rate? That's coming up. Was I supposed to start micro-economics tomorrow? I need to do math when I get a chance. My first speech and debate tournament of the year is in one month, I should write my speeches. Did I finish that literature paper? I think someone called me to help clean the house. And I need to respond to that email I got.
Wait, have I not written a blog post yet????

These were my thought Sunday night as I worried about all the things yet to be done. I felt like everything was pulling me in a thousand different directions and I was inches away from fracturing into a million pieces. I was stressed. Now, I'm not the only busy person, in fact, I'm sure everyone deals with this kind of pressure. But in a whirlwind of things that need to be done, in an atmosphere of intense pressure, we need to breathe. When you're dealing with stress in any situation, you need to breathe. I know, breathing doesn't seem like the logical thing to do when there's important things to get done. But I have found that it helps (so does not procrastinating on studying).

Also, thinking about how much stress helps you in the long run gives you the desire to keep going and not scream, cry, or loose control.

James 1:2-4 says "Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

We can rejoice in our stress because endurance through it makes us complete. And even though we can be faced with hard times, we shouldn't be anxious about it. Philippians tells us that "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 4:6-7)

Isn't that cool? Going through difficult times, it is hard to not be anxious. But if we pray thankfully to God and present our stress and worries to Him, we will experience peace beyond all understanding. Right now, it's a difficult time for everyone. School is kicking into full gear, the fall has just started bringing certain activities closer for some people, it's football season so everyone wants to be watching tv, and life is just busy. And there is no easier to be stressed. But right now, I urge you (and me) to be calm. Life will slow down again, this season will pass, and we will emerge stronger and smarter because of it. So take a moment to breathe. Reflect on God's sovereignty. And then push forward through whatever daunting task is ahead of you with endurance, knowing that in the end, you will experience peace that you cant even comprehend right now. 

That's all for now, I should probably go study.