5 ways to overcome stress!

December 17, 2022 (updated)

Often times stress is minimized to something that you “just deal with” and we don’t take it as seriously as we should. It affects you mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually and if it is not handled correctly it can cause irreparable damage. You will start to find yourself feeling agitated, overwhelmed, and depressed which can really take a toll on your body overall. The good news is there are things that can be done that can help you decrease your stress levels. It all begins with you making the decision to want to make a permanent change!

Stay rooted and grounded in the Word of God

The most powerful way to combat the stress in your life is to meditate on the Lord’s Word. It is living and powerful and sharper than any double-edged sword, Hebrews 4:12. When you meditate on the Bible, it diminishes those feelings of panic, restlessness, agitation and depression. Scripture has a way of completely renewing your entire frame of mind, Romans 12:2.

It will bring you a peace beyond comprehension and lessen those emotions that the enemy will use to attempt to dominate you. Don’t wait until your stress is attacking every aspect of your life to get into your Word. You want to have it already saturated in your heart and mind. That way, when the storms of life come, because they will, you will have God’s Word to keep you grounded.

Some really great scripture to meditate on are:

Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, Because he trusts in You.”
Psalm 34:4-5 “I sought the Lord, and He heard me, And delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, And their faces were not ashamed.”
Psalm 18:2 “The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.”
Philippians 4:6-7 “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

These powerful scriptures will help you get through some of those stressful moments that you may encounter throughout your day. It’s all about being prepared for the battle before it even begins!

Set yourself up financially

When you are facing financial strain, it will cause astronomical amounts of pressure that you are usually unaware of. Make a deliberate decision to put yourself in a position where you have at least one month’s supply of income put aside just in case. This is like an emergency fund that you don’t want to touch unless you are having an absolute crisis.

Life happens to the best of us but when you are equipped for it, it will make the circumstance so much easier to manage. Brush up on how to make your money, make money. What I mean by that is look into investing and putting money where it will help you secure your future like 401Ks and IRAs. There is so much information out there for free that can really change your life financially!

I know that I have been in situations in my life as a single parent when I literally didn’t know how I was going to make ends meet. All I can remember is those were some of the most stressful times in my life and I vowed to never allow myself to get into that type of circumstance again. I went back to school and got a degree that would get me a job that was going to allow me to pay for our necessities.

The stress that finances puts on people, marriages, and life in general is overwhelming and it can affect you physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. Have a back-up plan for your back-up plan and investigate ways that you can set yourself up for success!

Don’t be so hard on yourself

We tend to be our worst critics which can put added pressure on you that you don’t need. The truth of the matter is that nobody is perfect and will never be. So when you are trying to do everything to perfection, you are already setting yourself up for failure. All you can really do is your best and that is all anyone can really ask for, try not to let those feelings stress you out.

If you find that you are beginning to sense your frustration levels rising up, just take a step back and give yourself a second to breathe and relax. Everyone needs a minute or two to regroup so don’t let it discourage you. We have all held ourselves to impossible standards at one time or another but the key thing to remember is balance. Too much of anything is never good.

Have a list of Scriptures that you already have memorized that the Holy Spirit can reference in your times of need, John 14:26. He is our Helper and will give you strength when you feel like life is trying to tear you down. The enemy loves to fester in those moments of vulnerability so you have to remain sober and vigilant, 1 Peter 5:8. He will take an already stressful situation and magnify it if you allow him to. Keeping your relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ as solid as possible is the best way to overcome the debilitating emotions that stress is sure to bring.

Learn to say no

You cannot do everything all the time even when you try. When people rely on you at work, at home, or in any other area of your life, it can cause a considerable amount of strain. It’s ok to say no when you are already stretched really thin and the people that really care about you and have your best interests at heart will understand.

Some of the stress that we experience is self-inflicted because we put more on our plate than we can handle. Get to a place in your life where you know when enough is enough and be ok with it. This will eliminate so much of your anxiety but you have to learn to say no. After all, if you aren’t taking care of you, how can you be there for those that are important to you? It is so essential to know your limits and stick to them!

I remember one time in my life when I was on the praise team at my church, I was doing the kids ministry, I was doing Pastoral Duty, I was working, and taking care of my son as a single parent. To say it was overwhelming is an understatement. I found myself consistently exhausted! I began to realize that my number one problem was that I just couldn’t say no. I didn’t want to let anyone down, but I was letting myself down because I wasn’t thinking about me or my well-being.

Needless to say, I had to begin to say no. The more I let go of the paralyzing responsibilities that I placed on myself willingly, the more the stress began to slowly go away. I knew that I had to take care of myself if I was going to be there for my son, be productive at work, and most importantly give my time to the Lord!

Exercise

One way to decompress when your mind is racing a mile a minute is to exercise. When your body is moving and you are focused on your workout routine, it will take your attention away from things that are causing apprehension in your life. Take a 30 minute walk around the neighborhood, get with someone that is willing to work out with you so that you can hold each other accountable, or find routines online that you can do in the comfort of your own home.

Whatever works the best for you, the goal is to at least start the process. Exercise is the number one way that you can release some of your anxiety as well as get fit at the same time. We have a habit of neglecting our bodies physically which can really have an impact on us mentally and emotionally because they go hand and hand. The stress that is affecting your mind will have a direct impact on your body. If you are living a physically healthy life, your mental health will also be affected in a positive way.

Our body is the temple of the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 6:19) and what that means is that we have a responsibility to take care of it physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. If you are consistently stressed out you are not able to take care of yourself like you should. Exercise also helps you remain in physical shape which will have a positive effect on you emotionally and mentally. If you look good, you feel good, and when you feel good your mental and emotional state are positive.

It really is all about a mindset and leaving no room for any more excuses. You have to be willing to want to make the necessary changes in your life. Make the choice to want better for yourself and get out there and get moving!

Other blogs pertaining to this topic are:

The Holy Spirit-Our Prayer Partner!

The Holy Spirit-The Spirit of Power, Love, and a Sound Mind!

The Holy Spirit-Our Helper

Proverbs Scriptures Designed for a Queen!

Proverbs Scriptures that you need in your life Right Now!

3 Powerful Reminders that you need in your Life Now!

How to Build Your Confidence!

5 Words That Will Help Keep You Positive!

Also, get your week started right! Check out my Positive Weekly Message Series down below:

Positive Thinking-Get Your Week Started Off Right! October 23, 2022

Positive Thinking-Get Your Week Started Off Right! October 17, 2022