Role of Stress

Role of Stress

Unfortunately, many of us are living with a variety of stressors that can add to or trigger feelings of sadness or depression. Take a minute and think about your own life and some of the experiences that you have had or are currently facing. Raising children alone, working more than one job, ongoing financial concerns, lay offs, family concerns, the list can go on and on. So if you do become depressed and are no longer able to wear the super man or woman costume that you have been accustomed to wearing give yourself a break, a lesser person might not have made it this far. Even the best long distance marathon runner gets tired sometimes.

 

Depression and Thoughts

Depression and or feelings of sadness can also be reinforced by the negative thoughts and feelings that we allow to control our lives.

Think about this, if it were possible to carry a tape recorder around with you and to record your thoughts for a week, “What types of thoughts would be recorded on your tape recorder?”

 

Would they include thoughts like “I can do all things with the help of the Lord Jesus Christ” or “I am fearfully and wonderfully made,” or would they include thoughts such as: “you’re stupid,” “you can’t do that,” “they don’t like you,” or “it’s not going to work out.” Well, if these are the types of thoughts that we are mediating on, then there is no wonder that we feel hopeless and discouraged.

 

Negative thoughts can limit our lives and control our behaviors to such an extent that we are unable to focus on the positive things happening around us. We can do all things through Jesus Christ and all things will work together for good to those who love him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:27). But when we tell ourselves that we “can’t” or that “things will never work out,” we are engaging in thought patterns that are contrary to the Word of God and that reinforce negative feelings.

 

If we are not careful, our negative thoughts can lead to feelings of hopelessness and cause us to take our eyes off the Lord Jesus Christ. When we are engaging in thought patterns that are contrary to the Word of God, it is easy to forget that we have an opportunity given to us from Jesus Christ to make a change and to see the fulfillment of His promise in our lives.

 

Thoughts, feelings and behaviors are connected. We will act on what we feel, and what we feel is triggered by what we think. Negative life circumstances and or long-term illnesses do not have to have the final say so over our lives. Each day that we live is another opportunity given to us by God to fulfill the call that he has for our lives. By IGBATTMHO


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