The human body is designed to experience stress and react to Stress is the body’s reaction to any change that requires an adjustment or response. The body reacts to these changes with physical, mental, and emotional responses. Stress is a normal part of life. The human body is designed to experience stress and react to it. Stress can be positive, keeping us alert and ready to avoid danger. However stress becomes a negative thing when a person faces continuous challenges without relief or relaxation between those challenges. As a result, the person becomes overworked and stress-related tension builds. Stress that continues without relief leads to a condition called distress.

We have entered the time of year where the stress levels in the lives of millions of individuals are in the danger zone. Recent statistics confirm that the holidays are the most distressful and depressing time of the year. Dealing with the absence of loved ones; facing the reality of spending yet another holiday alone; internalizing the embarrassment of not being able to purchase gifts like others; the thought of incurring more debt when you are already drowning in it; these and a plethora of other scenarios alike are examples of what individuals stress out about at this time of year. However, through the Word of God there is a way to manage what appear to be unmanageable situations and that is by putting the situation in Jesus’ hands! When you get a chance read the text found in Matthew’s gospel. In doing so you’ll discover that the panacea to the panic the Disciples were feeling dissipated as soon as the issues causing stress were placed in Jesus’ hands. 

I don’t know what issue you may be facing today or what’s causing you to be stressed out, but what I do know is that the Lord’s hands are large enough to handle every problem you may be faced with. Whether the problem is the instability of the economy or the unreliability of loved ones, the scripture teaches us to “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not to thine own understanding”. In all thy ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths, Prov. 3:5, 6. Pastor Arthur Jackson III, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, Miami Gardens, FL www.antiochcarolcity.com<br>

Author: Arthur Jackson