Stress Relief

 

 Make me understand the way of your precepts, and I will meditate on your wondrous works. Psalm 119:27

“Stressed? Empty your mind. Don’t think about anything.”

I’ve had a couple of stressful weeks and I was recently reminded of these instructions from an article I once read about relieving stress. From a Biblical perspective this is terrible advice.

The world tells us that emptying the mind and thinking about absolutely nothing is the fast track to spiritual peace. I remember being at a conference where the speaker talked about this emptying of the mind. He pointed to Matthew 12 where Jesus, speaking of an unclean spirit that was removed from a person, says, “”When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it passes through waterless places seeking rest, but finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when it comes, it finds the house empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and dwell there, and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So also will it be with this evil generation.” (Matthew 12:443-45).

Though many people don’t like to think we can be bothered by evil spirits, emptying our minds may be one clear invitation to them to come on in.

So, when emotional pain is taking over, when the paychecks stop, or the husband comes home with a bad diagnosis, or the kids go astray, how are we to cope? What does the Bible say about relieving the stress of the things that are common to man or to gain emotional composure in a situation that we have no control over?

“Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8

The Bible’s prescription is the opposite of emptying our minds. God says to fill it with good things. He tells us in many other places to remember Him, His goodness, His steadfast love, and His faithfulness. We are to fill our minds with these truths, to meditate on them, to keep His commands – even when it is hard – and anticipate the blessings He has for us.

When many people hear the word “meditate” they think of emptying the mind, chanting a phrase, and removing themselves from “reality”. What these verses tells us is the exact opposite. We are to deliberately think on the things of God, the true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, and excellent things worthy of praise. Then, through His Word, HE will eliminate our stress, redirect our thinking, and change our attitudes.

Stressed? Fill your minds with the great precepts and wondrous works of our great God!

 

A few verses you might want to meditate on:

I will rejoice and be glad in your steadfast love, because you have seen my affliction; you have known the distress of my soul, and you have not delivered me into the hand of the enemy; you have set my feet in a broad place. Psalm 31:7-8

Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love. Psalm 33:18

As for you, O LORD, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! Psalm 40:11

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever. Psalm 23:6

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:7