Is Stress Your Lifestyle?

I seriously have to tell myself to take a chill pill way more than anyone ever should. Stress gets to me unlike anything else. I let it eat away at me like a corrosive chemical. It drips through my relationships, my time with the Lord, my patience, my sanity, honestly just about everything.And by the time I usually notice the negative effects, I have already said hurtful words to others and myself, and probably made some pretty large assumptions about my state of being and life as a whole. And those assumptions are not the most uplifting of thoughts.You see, stress is not the real enemy here.  Worry is, and worry is a sin because worry means you have a fear of something and Jesus says to "Fear not, for I am with you." But that isn't exactly the stream of thoughts that happens when I realize that I have 20 extra tasks to complete before the end of the day, or when the stress is real about finding a job after graduation and before I get married. And can any sister agree with me that when one "stressful" thing happens, it seems every possible "stressful" event happens? Wheewww it's like you can't catch a break. Instead of having that nice relaxing evening of a bubble bath and diffusing your favorite oils, you find yourself falling on your bed and falling asleep in the clothes that you wore that day.Well, I feel ya. I am the first to say that that has been me more often than I would like to admit. I have lived much of my life in the state of anxiety and stress, and it has given me a couple grey hairs, if we're being completely honest. But more seriously than getting a couple grey hairs, this stress and worry have been debilitating to my spirit and walk with Jesus.Like I said earlier, stress and worry and anxiety, all of this is a sin, and by living in this state of being, I am turning a deaf ear to scripture like John 14:24 that says, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." Oh and not to mention this powerful verse in Romans 16:20, "The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you."I mean, come on. The God of all creation says He is going to crush that pain of a devil under our feet and peace is on the way. If that doesn't bring you some glory hallelujah moments I don't know what will!These are the type of things that we need to call to mind when stress starts to eat away at our sanity. Instead of beating ourselves down with all the reasons why we won't be able to do something, let's have a mindset that proclaims Christ's victory over every "stressful" event and then, in turn, live out of that victory.I am a recovering "stresser," and by Christ and His power alone can I continue to put peace before me instead of anxiety. So, join me, let's not allow stress to be our lifestyle but rather let us live in harmony and peace knowing that God is our consolation and joy in the face of those struggle moments and days.words by Joy Johnston and photo by Leah Van Otterloo