Lent Day 32: Pressure and Stress

Hassles.
Demands.
Deadlines.
Frustrations.
Emergencies.

Does the frenetic pace of your life ever cause you to give in to anxiety?

Who has never experienced pressure and stress?
I know far too well the heat of pressure and stress.

While politicians and show hosts talk about ways to experience peace in the world, we are hard pressed to meet someone, anyone who is a stranger to trouble and distress. From dawn to dusk, opportunities abound for us to reflect upon the tumultuous waters of our existence and respond accordingly. We feel the effect of all that takes place around us—the wilting and withering of life's roses, the unexpected death of a very dear relative, the scorching heat of serious issues causing our rivers of joy to dry out, the betrayal of friends, the demeaning look of a boss, the dwindling of bank accounts, etc.

And how do we respond to the worries of the world? 

Honesty reveals that our actions, interactions, and transactions are often laden with hidden complaints, selfish arguments, ambitious motives, and vain conceit. At times, we do the right thing but, deep inside, we rebel. Other times, our audible words sound gracious to our listeners yet, perceptible to our ever-present Master, we sadly persist in murmuring and muttering murderous threats under our breath.

Oh, dear companion on the road, the act of responding to pressure and stress with complaining and fretting accomplishes but one thing—it dethrones Christ in our hearts. The perceived right to complain and whine is an illusion that veils our eyes from this most essential truth: Washed and unveiled by the blood of Christ, our spiritual eyes can see that even the most demoralizing circumstances are being orchestrated by a masterful hand that is altogether good. Accordingly, quieting our hearts this Lenten season reminds us that, when the urge to complain surfaces, it is truly God's cue for our prayers to begin their ascent toward His throne.

On this thirty-second lenten morning, God's Word opens my eyes to see that He provides prayer as an antidote to fretfulness. Will you, friend, continue to walk with me as I seek to adopt Christ's vision?

On this lenten journey, Christ counsels us to rend our tendency to function in an emergency mode. He gently calls us to remember that troubles come and go whereas His love endures forever. Stress and pressure rise and fall but His peace that passes all understanding endures forever.

Issues mount.
Pressure rises.
Enemies rage.
Crises threaten.

But, His love and peace endure forever and ever.

Thus, Paul exhorts us to heed this lesson:

"Do everything without complaining or arguing."

(Philippians 2:14, NIV)

Regardless of the stress or pressure that rages on and on in our hearts, or the darkest hour of our most intense turmoil, we have cause to sing praise and thanksgiving to God's name -- sans grumbling or murmuring -- because His love and peace endure forever.

Father, Your Word is far from encouraging passivity and resignation; You want us to practice active yet joyful obedience in all circumstances. When evil lumbers through our front door, You want us to speak against it. Yet, what is difficult for us to do is to speak the truth with love, gratitude, grace, and joy in our hearts. And so, we complain. Help us, Lord, to see that whining is a result of pride—thinking that we are wiser than You, that we would have never allowed such circumstances to erupt had we held the reins of life in our hands. Show us that both complaining and taking matters in our own hands produce nothing good in light of eternity because they are the offspring of selfishness. Help us to practice self-control in the ways we fight against evil—with prayer and gracious actions instead of murmuring and malice. We bow before Your name, O Christ. Amen!