No matter how we try, stress has a way of hanging around and staying present. We bury it for awhile or we tuck it away after a few days on vacation and then something triggers its return and it starts influencing us again. Not all stress is bad. Actors and athletes would never get to the top of their game if they didn’t have some stress to drive them. Nor would we when we have to give the big presentation or close the important deal. We need some of that stress to sharpen and focus us. But, what we don’t need is the hang-around and keep us up night after night stress that drags us down and wreaks havoc on our body and mind. It’s important that we monitor and know ourselves well enough to know the difference between good and bad stress. It’s counter-intuitive but one way to beat stress is to stress our our minds and bodies into other things that take us away from what is bringing on the bad stress. Physical exercise is good, we know that but at some point we can only spend so many hours working out so exercise of the body is not the full answer. Exercise of the mind is also important. But, this exercise must also be really good for us. David tells us the best way to work our minds to relieve the stress, “As pressure and stress bear down on me, I find joy in your commands”. If we begin to exercise and discipline ourselves in the commands of the Lord we will find that the stresses of this world will fall away. Let’s today, try and see if we can’t find what David found in the joy and stress-relief of the Lord.

Reference: Psalm 119:143 (New Living Testament)