Today’s post is by Karen Jordan author of “Words That Change Everything: Speaking Truth to Your Soul.”
Are you overwhelmed with stress in your life? The book of Lamentations offers a clear word on how to deal with stress. “When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear” (Lamentations 3:25-29 MSG).
5 Biblical Tips to Deal with Stress
- Go off by yourself. Solitude often seems impossible for me, even with an “empty nest.” But Jesus knew the importance of spending time alone with His Father. When He needed to listen, He would pull away from everyone. After Jesus fed the 5,000, He “climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night” (Matthew 14:22-23).
- Enter the silence. When we seek God in silence, Satan often tries to distract us with fear, like in the story of Hannah (1 Samuel 1). Hanna’s husband had two wives—talk about stress! And her husband’s other wife taunted her year after year, blaming and accusing God for Hannah’s inability to conceive children. Then, when Hannah prayed, her spiritual leader misunderstood her. “Hannah was praying in her heart, silently. Her lips moved, but no sound was heard. Eli jumped to the conclusion that she was drunk” (1 Samuel 1:13).
- Bow in prayer. Prayer can be as natural as talking with a good friend or as intimate as sharing a secret whisper. It can occur any time of day, no matter where you are or what you are doing. God promises that if we call on His Name, He’ll listen. “And if we’re confident that he’s listening, we know that what we’ve asked for is as good as ours” (1 John 5:15).
- Don’t ask questions – My questions often interfere with my communication with God—I’m talking, instead of listening. When Jesus taught His disciples, He asked them on several occasions, “Are you listening to this? Really listening?” (Matthew 11:15).
- Wait for hope to appear – Waiting rooms seem to bring out the worst in me, like my impatience or frustration. But waiting does not have to be hopeless. “I waited and waited and waited for God. At last he looked; finally he listened. He lifted me out of the ditch, pulled me from deep mud. He stood me up on a solid rock to make sure I wouldn’t slip” (Psalm 40:1-2, MSG).
“Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes” (Matthew 6:30-34, MSG).
So, remember, “When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear” (Lamentations 3:28-29 MSG).
Do you struggle with stress? What helps you handle the stressful times in your life?
More about today’s guest Karen Jordan
Karen loves to encourage others to tell the stories that matter most, as an author, speaker, writing instructor, and blogger, addressing topics about her faith, family, and writing. Native Texans, Karen and her husband, Dan, now live in Hot Springs Village, Arkansas, close to their children and grandchildren. Karen’s 
first book, Words That Change Everything: Speaking Truth to Your Soul, Leaf
wood Publishing, released in 2016, along with her eBook, RESTNotes: A Fifteen-Day Devotional Guide to Words That Change Everything. Read a sample of “Words that Change Everything.” Visit Karen’s website!
Kathy, thanks again for inviting me to share a guest post on your blog. I pray God continues to bless your work in His Kingdom! Blessings, Karen
Karen, this is a great post! Thanks you so much for sharing it with me and my readers!
Good advice. Thx Karen
I would add …admit to our Lord, that you cannot handle it, whatever the stressor is alone. Admit need and inability.
There is just no getting around stress, regardless of the time of life we’re in. We may think things will be easier at some point, but we really only trade one stress for another. It’s never ending, but we have a great Father God who understands us completely!
So when the stress is rising like a huge flash flood, I remember how Jesus handled all the stress in His own life. He had a place of peaceful solitude….a tranquil place of prayer…where He met with God the Father. He also had people who prayed with Him and for Him and helped Him shoulder His load that way.When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions…..Wait for hope to appear.
In Gods Love
Yvonne Marie Miller.