Are you feeling stressed, tired, or worn out? What stresses you the most? What causes stress for the people around you – your family, friends, and colleagues? And perhaps more important, how can you overcome stress?
Susan Lenzkes conducted an informal poll to find out.
In this post, we’ll see what she discovered. We’ll learn about common stressors, the difference between stress and pressure, and the best way to respond to both.
Let’s take a closer look.
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Who is Susan Lenzkes?
Susan Lenzkes is a motivational speaker, Bible study leader, and author of several books. (We’ll touch on one today.) She’s also a contributor to the Women’s Devotional Bible.
Her devotionals “comfort like a warm hug,” said one reader. “With a unique combination of humor and depth, she shares wisdom from the Word and personal experiences to address everyday life issues.”
Issues like stress.
What Causes Stress?
Psychological stress is one of the most significant health problems in modern times, and it’s a growing problem. But what causes it? Health organizations provide good overviews based on research and thought leadership.
Lenzkes, however, wanted to hear from everyday people. So she polled a sample of people – women and men – from across the country. She then shared her findings in Sunshine and Storms, a devotional book from Our Daily Bread Ministries. Her piece “The Pressure’s On” inspired this post.
We’ll get to the survey results in a moment. But first, let’s do a short exercise to help you understand why YOU might be feeling stressed. It won’t take long. Grab a pen and paper, or your phone’s note app. Then list five challenges you face today.
When you’re done, compare your list with the one below. See any similarities? The people in Lenzkes’ poll experienced similar life stressors. Here are the top ten:
- Money problems
- Work-related issues
- Illness or pain
- Relationship troubles
- Criticism and rejection
- Red lights and traffic
- Watching the news
- Noisy neighbors or pets
- Calendars and clocks
- Cell phones
Some respondents experienced stress for reasons other than those above. Things like indecision, procrastination, bad attitudes, and feelings of inadequacy.
In truth, these reasons are closer to the heart of the matter.
Stress Versus Pressure
In Lenzkes’ book, she talks about “stress” and “pressure” – and how we often confuse the two. It is helpful to understand the difference. Here’s how she explained it in Sunshine and Storms.
Consider the lists above. The first one – annoyances, difficulties, and interruptions – spotlights the pressures we experience in life. But the second list is different. It describes our reactions to those pressures.
Psychological stress occurs when external pressures collide with unhealthy, internal reactions. Things like bad attitudes, unrealistic expectations, and resistance to change. This is important to understand because change is essential to overcoming stress.
Change From the Inside Out
When we understand that stress is a reaction to pressure, we can see our need for change. But the change must happen from the inside out. This usually adds “more stress because we know [we can’t change] our own hearts,” wrote Lenzkes.
But God can. In fact, it’s His job to change us. He’s in the business of changing hearts and lives. And yet, we have a job to do, as well. It’s our job to:
- trust in the Lord (Proverbs 3:5-6),
- rest in the Lord (Psalm 62:5), and
- allow Him to work in us (Philippians 2:13).
The Bible is full of verses that can help you cope with stress in a healthy way. Here is one that I turn to often when I’m feeling stressed, tired, or worn out:
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7
Conclusion
You’ll respond better to stress as you change from the inside out. So trust in the Lord, rest in His promises, and allow Him to work in your life. He will help you respond when the pressure’s on, so you can overcome stress. ◻️
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Now It’s Your Turn
Thank you for reading my post. Now it’s YOUR turn to chime in. How do you react when you’re feeling stressed? What will you do different after reading this post?
Let’s fill the comments with friendly conversation. Scroll down to leave a reply, ask a question, or say just hello. And if you liked this post, please give it a share.
Blessings, Annette
📋 NOTE – You are reading “Feeling Stressed Out? How to Respond When the Pressure is On” on Savoring Home. First published on Blogger in 2015, it was updated in November 2024.
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Thank you.
You’re welcome, Susan. I’m so glad you stopped by!