Stress Relief A Lesson from The Bible

Stress Relief a Lesson From The Bible by Lynn Chapman (Bella Online http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art4588.asp)

Life is hard, in fact it can be very stressful. Stress is now accepted and thought to be an unavoidable consequence of life. It has even been described as America’s #1 health problem. In fact, over nine billion dollars are spent each year in the United States to cope with stress.

If you have ever made a New Year’s Resolution to begin some sort of stress management program, you are not alone. A survey by Prudential Health Care says that one third of the population have made such resolutions.

If you feel that your stress level is out of control and you can’t get out from under it, you are also not alone. That’s the way stress is. It is self-perpetuating and does not go away by itself.

I know of a Stress management program that will cost you nothing and may seem all too easy. It is found in the Bible, in the book of Matthew, chapter 11, verses 28 and 29.

Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle, and you will find rest for your souls”

I have often felt weary and as if I was carrying a heavy burden. I have many times had to balance working enough hours to help to pay the bills, meet deadlines at work, keep up with chores at home, and make my husband, children, other relatives and friends feel loved and cared for. Add in anything extra, like an illness or car break down or any of the many other things that can go wrong in a day, and the feeling gets to be unbearable.

A yoke was a double harness in which two animals pulled together. Often, one harness was larger and meant for the stronger animal, while the smaller was used for the smaller or inexperienced animal being trained.

The larger side of the harness is for Jesus for He is stronger and He knows the way, the smaller side for us. This is God’s stress relief program and is available to anyone who believes what Jesus said and chooses to take His yoke. He offers to give us rest and to walk with us and to help to carry the load, to teach us and give us rest for our souls.