But take heed to yourselves and be on your guard, lest your hearts be overburdened and depressed (weighed down) with…worldly worries and cares.
Luke 21:34 (AMPC)
If you’re feeling stressed, the problem may not lie with what’s happening to you. The problem may be how you’re processing what’s happening to you.
Think about it: one person might be nervous before public speaking but still get up and deliver a great speech. Another might get physically ill due to nervousness and have to cancel. It all comes down to what you think and believe about your situation.
While having too many things to do definitely can lead to stress, stress doesn’t necessarily come from having too much to do. What Jesus was really saying in today’s verse was that you have to guard yourself against getting weighed down by fear—the worries and cares of this world. You see, stress is the result of being overrun by thoughts of worry and anxiety about what you have to do.
When you’re feeling stressed, take time to assess what you’re thinking about. Are you imagining the worst? You may not even realize that you’re doing it, but when you become consciously aware of what you’re thinking about, you can choose to let go of the negative and focus on God’s promises instead.
If you’re feeling stressed out this holiday season, think about what you’re thinking about. You have the mind of Christ (1 Corinthians 2:16). You have not been given the spirit of fear but of power, love and self-discipline (2 Timothy 1:7). You can focus on the positive and walk in peace!