Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser
In today’s fast-paced and demanding world, stress has become a constant companion for many. The pressures of work, relationships, finances, and health can easily overwhelm us, leaving us anxious and restless. However, the Bible offers a powerful antidote to this cycle of stress and worry. It reminds us that we are not meant to carry the weight of life’s challenges alone. Instead, we are called to bring every concern to God through prayer and thanksgiving, trusting that His peace will guard our hearts and minds.
Achieving zero stress doesn’t mean living a trouble-free life; it means learning to respond to life’s difficulties with faith and peace, knowing that God is with us. When we embrace this mindset, we can experience true calmness and clarity, even in the face of uncertainty. This article challenges us to let go of control, lean onto God’s promises, and experience the peace that only He can provide. Be blessed as you read!
In today’s culture, stress has become so normalised that suggesting a goal of zero stress seems unconventional. However, we are encouraged to live free from stress, worry, anxiety, fear, and depression. Philippians 4:6-7 says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
To achieve a peace that goes beyond our natural understanding, we must seek supernatural peace, which can lead to a stress-free life. This means experiencing the peace of God, a supernatural peace that surpasses all understanding and guards our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Following the guidance provided in verse six assures us of receiving this supernatural peace mentioned in verse seven, which results in a life free from stress, worry, and anxiety. We can attain “the peace that surpasses all understanding” to protect our hearts and minds.
In Philippians 4:6, we are presented with three key principles to follow that promise us supernatural peace, helping us to live without stress or anxiety. The first principle is to be anxious for nothing. We should not allow ourselves to feel stressed or worried about anything. You might wonder, “If I’m facing marriage problems, shouldn’t I be concerned?” or “What if my children are going off track? Shouldn’t I worry about them?” Likewise, you may think, “With significant financial issues, is worrying not justified?” However, the scripture clearly instructs us to be anxious for nothing (Philippians 4:6-7).
So, you need to cast your cares onto the Lord. “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:6-7). 1 Peter 5:7 doesn’t say to cast some of your care upon him. It says casting all of your care upon him, for he cares for you. The Amplified Bible says it this way: 6 “Therefore humble yourselves [demote, lower yourselves in your own estimation] under the mighty hand of God, that in due time He may exalt you,7 Casting the whole of your care [all your anxieties, all your worries, all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares for you affectionately and cares about you watchfully”.
Many people hesitate to let go of their worries and cares because they think, “If I don’t take care of them, who will?” However, if you humble yourself and cast your burdens onto the Lord, you will discover that He truly cares for you. The Lord loves you more than you love yourself or anyone else. He understands how to take care of you better than anyone else can. Just as a loving parent protects and provides for their children, imagine how much more the Lord will do for you.
" You must transform your burdens into prayers. "
We need to cast our cares onto the Lord because He cares for us. The Bible tells us to be anxious for nothing, but often we wonder if that means we should stop thinking about our problems. However, it’s important to realise that it’s impossible to simply stop thinking about something that occupies your mind. If a particular thought is dominating your mind, the only way to break free from it is to replace it with another thought. The verse encourages us not only to avoid anxiety but also teaches us how to handle our worries: “But in everything, by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be known to God.”
To find peace, you need to focus on the Lord and cast your worries onto Him. So, what should you do with your concerns? You must transform your burdens into prayers. Take this seriously: the Bible says to cast all your cares upon Him. The word ‘casting’ in Greek implies a forceful action – it’s about slamming your worries onto the Lord. You have to be assertive when dealing with worries because they can be persistent. Have you ever been in your prayer closet, prayed about something, and thought you had given it to God, only to find that the worry still occupies your mind? It’s like having a piece of tissue stuck to your shoe; you just can’t shake it off. That’s why you must act decisively with worry. You need to throw it onto the Lord. When you do this, you’ll find that your problems don’t come back to you. When you sincerely cast your troubles onto Him, deliverance is assured (Psalm 50:15).
God is a good God, so don’t hesitate to cast your worries on Him. There’s no need to stress out about carrying your own burdens. We all face needs and challenges, but worry and stress are not the solutions. In fact, worry, stress, and anxiety are significant burdens in our society. The Bible says that a merry heart does good like medicine. A merry heart is a good medicine; But a broken spirit dries the bones. A glad heart promotes health; but the bones of a sorrowful man dry up (Proverbs 17:22).
A study involving 5,000 members of the Century Club, all of whom lived to be 100 years old, revealed intriguing insights about longevity. These individuals maintained sound minds well into their centenarian years. Researchers discovered that the common factor contributing to their long lives was not their diet, exercise, or whether they drank alcohol or smoked. Instead, it was how they managed stress in their lives that made the difference. The key takeaway was the importance of stress management for their longevity.
There is a large cancer hospital in the U.S. that has a room they call the “Laughing Room.” In this room, they show funny movies to help patients relax and enjoy some laughter. Why do they do this? Research has shown that a merry heart can be just as beneficial as medicine, as noted in the Bible. Worrying never helps anyone or anything. How many of you have ever worried? I have both my hands up! But how many times did worrying ever help you? Never – not even once. So why do we continue to worry? It seems to be against the norm to not worry, just as it is against tradition to live in fear.
It’s important to recognize that worrying is not a healthy way to show people you care. You can demonstrate your care through prayer, love, and speaking the truth in love. The Bible contains several passages and warnings regarding worry and anxiety. Instead of worrying, focus on the three key actions we can explore in Philippians 4:6-7. Psalm 37:1, “Do not fret because of evildoers”. Psalm 55:22, “Cast your burden upon the Lord and he will sustain you”. That burden includes worry and anxiety. Matthew 6:34, therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things; sufficient for the day is its own trouble.
Paul said in 1 Corinthians 7:32, “But I want you to be without worry”. Then 1 Peter 5:6-7 says, “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God”, and it goes on to say, “Casting all your care upon him, for he cares for you”. One of the best ways to humble yourself before the Lord is to simply cast your cares on him. I just wanted to let you know that stress, worry and anxiety are not from God. Philippians 4:6 says, ‘be anxious for nothing’ or don’t worry about anything, ‘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 understanding will guard your hearts and Minds through Christ Jesus.’
