Not only does it affect our sleep, general health and a bunch of other things in our lives, but stress also inhibits our ability to hear God’s voice. In other words, stress positions us in such a way that hearing God’s voice is difficult, if not impossible.
Everyone knows about stress. Stress visits us at work, in many of our relationships, in our home life and just in general.
After all, the world is out of control and many of us don’t feel safe “out there.” We never know when we might meet with calamity and/or misfortune. We don’t know when the IRS is going to come knocking on our door. We don’t know when the kids are going to have something happen in their lives. We don’t know when Congress or the President is going to do something that we don’t agree with.
And then there’s the news–whether you get your news on the internet, television or radio, it’s enough to drive even the most stable person crazy. Who are these people? Both the ones who report the news, but especially those in the news.
There’s terrorism, accidents and hurricanes. There are fires, murders and all kinds of mayhem. There’s scandal, politics and sports.
Just a second. I need to pause and take a few cleansing breaths. I’m feeling stressed just writing out that short list of some of the things that appear in our news pipelines.
I’m better now. Thanks for waiting. Appreciate it.
Back to stress, however. The problem with stress is that it takes us out of “our game.” We are not our best selves when we are stressed.
Stress distorts us. Stress has its way with us and makes us feel out of control. Stress leaks into every area of our lives and makes a mess of things.
Stress shortens our tempers and shortens our lives. Not things we want to be true about us.
AND stress causes us to hunker down in such a way that we are not aware of all that is going on around us.
And that includes God and His speaking to us.
So … if you are stressed, then you’re probably having a hard time connecting with God.
You’re experiencing a real barrier between yourself and the One who can give you the peace and joy that you are craving and longing for.
Take your stress-pulse and see where you are. Do what you can to get your pulse in the healthy range and get your spiritual blood pressure under control.
Then connect–with God and ask Him to speak into your life. Ask Him to show you how you can reduce your stress.
Know God, know peace.
No God, no peace.
