We can’t be stress free because stress is part of life. But we can be worry free! (For the most part.) Jesus teaches us to find peace (freedom from fear and anxiety) in his kingdom — even in the midst of stressful situations.
Pastors and other leaders are especially vulnerable to stress overload, as well as to burnout, because it’s difficult to set boundaries when leading a ministry or caring for people in need. Research on pastors and pastor’s wives have shown that they suffer from extreme stress, painful struggles, and often burnout. Stress Overload is from being chronically overstressed or going through…
It was 4:30 am and I couldn’t get back to sleep. I tossed and turned. I meditated on Bible passages, but my heart wasn’t engaging very well with God. The discouragement I felt the night before was still hanging on me — I just wanted to go back to sleep. Then the day ahead started…
My heart goes out to people who get overcome by worry. It’s a temptation we all face. It used to be a way of life for me ’till I was renewed spiritually and deepened by trust in God’s Word. As a psychologist, I help people with worry in therapy. I also provide spiritual care and…
“Abruptly Jesus broke into prayer: ‘Thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth. You’ve concealed your ways from sophisticates and know-it-alls, but spelled them out clearly to ordinary people. Yes, Father, that’s the way you like to work.’ “Jesus resumed talking to the people, but now tenderly.” (Matthew 11:25-27, MSG) A Praying Life Most of…
“It’s no sweat!” we say when something is easy for us. What if we lived life without sweating? Without straining, hurrying, or worrying? That’s how Adam and Eve lived in the Garden of Eden — till they separated themselves from God. Ever since people have been working by the sweat of their brow. But we…
Recently, I was awoken before three in the morning and I couldn’t sleep. (My body still thought it was in Greece where we led a “Steps of Paul” pilgrimage!) I thought, I need more sleep! But then I realized, Even more I need the Lord. This is an opportunity for me to meditate on his words to me.…
On the cross Jesus let go of everything and abandoned all outcomes to the Father. To help him do this, he prayed a line from Psalm 31:5 to his Abba: “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit” (Luke 23:46). This is a prayer of submission to God that expresses how Jesus lived everyday of…
As a psychologist, my job is to get inside people’s heads and understand what it’s like to live in there. I can tell you that for many people it’s very stressful inside their minds! Understanding the way we think and what we really believe is important work because, as Dallas Willard teaches, “We live at…
A few months ago David, my 19-year old son, asked me to run a triathlon with him, which is a race in which you swim, bike, and run in that order. I immediately said yes because I wanted to share this experience with him and because I like exercise. I was in good shape from…