Managing Stress

Main Point: Effectively managing the stress in our lives requires both practical and spiritual approaches.

Run a Sustainable Pace

The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, “What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?” Moses answered him, “Because the people come to me to seek God’s will. Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God’s decrees and instructions.” Moses’ father-in-law replied, “What you are doing is not good. You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people’s representative before God and bring their disputes to him. Teach them his decrees and instructions, and show them the way they are to live and how they are to behave. But select capable men from all the people—men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain—and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied.” Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves. Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country. —Exodus 18:13-27

Ask For Help

When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom. —Proverbs 11:2

Seek Community

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching. —Hebrews 10:23-25

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. —Romans 12:15

Make Worship a Priority

From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I. (NKJV) —Psalm 61:2

Spend Quiet Time with God

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. —Philippians 4:6-7

“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

Takeaway: When we are weary and burdened, Jesus invites us to come to him – he promises to give us rest.

Discussion Questions
1.How often would you say that you find yourself to be extremely stressed?
2.Who is someone in your life that doesn’t ever seem to be stressed? What do they do that stands out to you?
3.Are you currently running a sustainable pace? If not, who do you need to confess this to? Who can you ask for help?
4.In what ways are you deliberately seeking community in your life?

Table Discussion Question: Are worship and quiet time with God priorities in your life? How do you find your life and mindset changing when they are?