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Seasons Change: Seasons of Stress

Pastor Scott Applegate & Kristen Diebel 

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”    Matthew 11:28-30 NIV

Resisting stress

  1. I need to know who I am

 

“I am…”  (John 8:12, 10:9, 14:6) (Jesus knew who he was)

 

  • Two things that produce added stress in our lives:

 

  • Insecurity about who we are always adds stress to our lives

 

  • Unrealistic standards for ourselves add stress and pressure to our lives

 

  • I will know who I am by knowing whose I am

“The identity that makes you free is anchored beyond all human praise and blame.” Henri Nouwen

  1. I need to know whom I am trying to please in life

 

“…I seek not to please myself but him who sent me.” John 5:30 NIV (Jesus knew who he was trying to please)

 

  • When we are trying to please someone other than God we cave into:

 

  • Criticism – because we are overly concerned with what others think of us

 

  • Competition – because we worry about if someone is getting ahead of us

 

  • Conflict – because we are threatened when someone disagrees with us

 

  1. I need to know what I am trying to accomplish

 

“…for I know where I came from and where I am going…” John 8:14 NIV (Jesus lived for what was most important)

 

  • Every day we either live by priorities or by pressures

 

  • Jesus refused to get sidetracked by less important matters (Luke 4:42-44)

 

  • Jesus made alone time with God a priority in His life (Mark 1:35, Luke 6:12-19)

 

 

Reducing stress

  1. Ask for help (Luke 6:12-16)

 

  1. Take time for rest and recreation

 

“The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.” Mark 2:27-28 NIV

 

  1. Give your stress to Christ

 

“Let him have all your worries and cares, for he is always thinking about you and watching everything that concerns you.” 1 Peter 5:7 LB