Overcoming Stress: Finding Peace in a Turbulent World

1. How Do You Handle Stress?Matthew 6:25-33

2. How Do You Handle Stress? • There are at least three contemporary sources of stress that mark our age as a difficult one. First, due to the alarming increase in violence and crime, we are more afraid. Second, due to rapidly changing job markets, technology, and economic factors, we are more professionally insecure. Finally, due to widespread separation and divorce, we are more alone. (David Elkind THE HURRIED CHILD: GROWING UP TOO FAST TOO SOON p. 26)

3. How Do You Handle Stress? • First, Stress is Natural; Distress is largely a response. • Second, we must accept the fact that some things are out of our control. • Third, We Should Learn from Nature

4. How Do You Handle Stress? • Jesus said, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?” (v.26) • Finally, We must change our focus from the stressful situation to the Providence and Promise of God.

5. How Do You Handle Stress? • First, God is Holy. • James tells us, “God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. . . Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. (1:13,17)

6. How Do You Handle Stress? • Second, God is Great. • Third, God is Caring. • I want you to take away two things: • First, Stress is a part of life. • Second, we need to recognize that after you have done what you can to minimize stress, the next step is to work to adopt a new attitude about the pressures of life.