Dealing with Stress
Engineers trying to improve safety and quality in our cars often seek two things - a way to minimize friction and a way to increase it. This is one of the paradoxes of God’s material creation. Inside an engine or transmission low friction reduces wear and tear, and outside the car, low friction produces better aerodynamics. Lower friction means better gas mileage, a cooler engine and longer life. But where the rubber meets the road they seek to increase friction (traction). New tread designs, and computer distribution of brake fluid makes cars more stable on slippery roads. In the engine, friction is the enemy and in the brakes it is a friend.
For many mechanical products, we have sought and found the means to lower friction with oil, grease, wax, graphite, teflon, and silicon. When we hear a creak or grind, we select one of these to reduce the tension and increase the product’s life.
Just as God gave us such substances in the material world, he has given us emotions and intelligence to do the same thing within ourselves. Each of us must work like an engineer, finding the means to increase traction in some areas of our life, while decreasing friction and stress in others.
The diligence we put forth to grow and gain success is a traction we should always be looking to increase. In our “slippery slope” world, we need as much traction as possible. Yet that same traction will create stress and friction inside our heart. God offers a peace that passes all understanding to guard our hearts and reduce this stress (Phil 4:4-6). Conviction and zeal are very powerful emotions. When contending earnestly for the faith, it is easy for that strong traction to create so much friction and heat that we become angry or bitter at the hardness of heart or dishonesty we see in lost sinners. There is often a fine line between the enthusiasm and dedication (traction) coming from hearing and following God’s commands and the jaded emptiness of finding multitudes who will scoff and scorn us for doing so (stress). It is as important for us to monitor the stress level of our emotions as it is to monitor stress in an engine (oil light, water temp).
We can suffer serious harm if we do not control strong emotions. When emotions build to a level of stress we can no longer control, it is time to carefully lower them because under duress, people do terrible things. Stress has been cited as a cause for murder, suicide, and divorce. Stress can also lead to apostasy, or such great bitterness and resentment we are no longer useful to the Lord.
The results of Peter’s sermon reveal the traction God’s word produces: “Men and brethren, what shall we do” (Acts 2:37)? Peter’s answer was a soothing balm that has removed this stress from multitudes of guilty sinners: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). Stephen’s sermon also created traction, but the soothing balm was refused and the friction climbed to a catastrophic level. “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. ...Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; ... And they stoned Stephen” (Acts 7:54, 57, 59).
The same friction occurred, but with a different outcome. What happened? God’s word is designed by God to work like brake shoes, to slow and stop the sinner. The more friction this causes, the more heat is generated. Repentance and forgiveness remove this friction, calming and soothing the heart. For those who refuse to repent, that same friction causes the heart to “overheat” into great wrath along with bitterness, hatred, and malice. This explains the persecution and troubles caused by those who hear but don’t repent.
It also explains stress in our own lives. Each sermon is designed to create both friction and lubrication. As we are reproved, rebuked and exhorted, our response leads to peace and contentment or to guilt and frustration. Our good decisions are like adding oil while our rebellion adds sand. The emotions of submission, contrition, repentance, confession, and forgiveness soothe and calm the heart. The emotions of guilt, wrath, rebellion, and bitterness cause great stress and unhappiness. Only faith and submission lead to peace and harmony in our relationship with God.
Many of Jesus commands were designed to minimize our stress and keep us calm and serene regardless of circumstances. When we are “meek”, “merciful”, and “peacemakers” we are insulated from stress. If you “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Mt. 5:5, 7, 9, 44), then none of our interactions with others can cause us stress or unhappiness. Our chosen responses and not the actions of others control our stress level. But it is not “normal” or healthy to live under stress, and our Lord would spare us unnecessary pressure. Our best line of defense is to gain power over those emotions that calm, soothe, and lubricate: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Col. 3:12-13).
We must become more aware of these things. In conflict, the emotions we choose will soothe or escalate: A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Pr. 15:1).
For many mechanical products, we have sought and found the means to lower friction with oil, grease, wax, graphite, teflon, and silicon. When we hear a creak or grind, we select one of these to reduce the tension and increase the product’s life.
Just as God gave us such substances in the material world, he has given us emotions and intelligence to do the same thing within ourselves. Each of us must work like an engineer, finding the means to increase traction in some areas of our life, while decreasing friction and stress in others.
The diligence we put forth to grow and gain success is a traction we should always be looking to increase. In our “slippery slope” world, we need as much traction as possible. Yet that same traction will create stress and friction inside our heart. God offers a peace that passes all understanding to guard our hearts and reduce this stress (Phil 4:4-6). Conviction and zeal are very powerful emotions. When contending earnestly for the faith, it is easy for that strong traction to create so much friction and heat that we become angry or bitter at the hardness of heart or dishonesty we see in lost sinners. There is often a fine line between the enthusiasm and dedication (traction) coming from hearing and following God’s commands and the jaded emptiness of finding multitudes who will scoff and scorn us for doing so (stress). It is as important for us to monitor the stress level of our emotions as it is to monitor stress in an engine (oil light, water temp).
We can suffer serious harm if we do not control strong emotions. When emotions build to a level of stress we can no longer control, it is time to carefully lower them because under duress, people do terrible things. Stress has been cited as a cause for murder, suicide, and divorce. Stress can also lead to apostasy, or such great bitterness and resentment we are no longer useful to the Lord.
The results of Peter’s sermon reveal the traction God’s word produces: “Men and brethren, what shall we do” (Acts 2:37)? Peter’s answer was a soothing balm that has removed this stress from multitudes of guilty sinners: “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins” (Acts 2:38). Stephen’s sermon also created traction, but the soothing balm was refused and the friction climbed to a catastrophic level. “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. ...Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; ... And they stoned Stephen” (Acts 7:54, 57, 59).
The same friction occurred, but with a different outcome. What happened? God’s word is designed by God to work like brake shoes, to slow and stop the sinner. The more friction this causes, the more heat is generated. Repentance and forgiveness remove this friction, calming and soothing the heart. For those who refuse to repent, that same friction causes the heart to “overheat” into great wrath along with bitterness, hatred, and malice. This explains the persecution and troubles caused by those who hear but don’t repent.
It also explains stress in our own lives. Each sermon is designed to create both friction and lubrication. As we are reproved, rebuked and exhorted, our response leads to peace and contentment or to guilt and frustration. Our good decisions are like adding oil while our rebellion adds sand. The emotions of submission, contrition, repentance, confession, and forgiveness soothe and calm the heart. The emotions of guilt, wrath, rebellion, and bitterness cause great stress and unhappiness. Only faith and submission lead to peace and harmony in our relationship with God.
Many of Jesus commands were designed to minimize our stress and keep us calm and serene regardless of circumstances. When we are “meek”, “merciful”, and “peacemakers” we are insulated from stress. If you “love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you” (Mt. 5:5, 7, 9, 44), then none of our interactions with others can cause us stress or unhappiness. Our chosen responses and not the actions of others control our stress level. But it is not “normal” or healthy to live under stress, and our Lord would spare us unnecessary pressure. Our best line of defense is to gain power over those emotions that calm, soothe, and lubricate: “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do” (Col. 3:12-13).
We must become more aware of these things. In conflict, the emotions we choose will soothe or escalate: A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” (Pr. 15:1).