According to the American Institute of Stress, stress-related illnesses cost the US economy $300 billion in medical bills and lost productivity every year. Forty-four percent of Americans feel more stress than they did 5 years ago. Family relationships, job-related challenges, and even academic studies are a few stressors that weigh citizens down.
The believers in Ephesus were dealing with stress, but it was related to their faith in Jesus. Instead of offering human-engineered ways to chill and feel more relaxed, John pointed them to God and His resources.
The apostle was writing to a group of believers who were being socially ostracized and physically brutalized. Every day they lived with the stress of choosing Christ or losing their jobs and even their lives. Instead of giving in to the temptation of cowering under the pressure, they remained faithful to Jesus. What was their secret to dealing with the constant stress of being persecuted? Knowing that God was their heavenly Father, they found security in His love and knowing that they were “a child of God” (1 John 5:1).
They also found freedom in lovingly and joyfully obeying Jesus. In doing so, they weren’t defeated by the world’s hostility or compelled by it to turn from Christ (1 John 5:4). Because Jesus had already conquered the world, His followers could walk in that victory, casting all their anxieties on Him and finding His peace even in the midst of stress.
Peace is possible as we remember Jesus’ words, receive His love, and walk obediently in the victory He’s provided. His presence can cheer our souls, making it possible for us to experience freedom when stress comes calling.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: Nehemiah 5:1-19
More:
Read John 16:33. Why did Jesus say His followers could have peace?
Next:
How can knowing that God loves you unconditionally reduce the stress in your life and help you know peace? How can loving and obeying God help you to find the peace He has promised His children?
Gary Shultz on April 30, 2016 at 6:21 am
Yes His presence does cheer souls. At this point I have also found, as I told our boys, any good thing you see in and from me, came from God. Only God can supply the peace that passes all understanding. I must also think some of the things we talked about the other week are very important, at least to me. And that is to view life from eternities eyes, not from the eyes of time. It is a faith move, as you stated, to be walked through life by a force and plan much greater than oneself. To understand who that is and to have a strong relational bond and I would add, as you, to love and obey. We can’t physically see it, but God’s hand fits us and He loves to touch our lives. Thanks Marvin.
gagirllive on April 30, 2016 at 8:11 am
Hi, Marvin. Anti-depressants, pain killers, and other anti-anxiety drugs are the top-selling pharmaceuticals on the market today. No surprise to me…or you, I’m sure. I’m not saying there aren’t legitimate reasons for some people to be on these medications. Thank God they are available for people who really need them, but I think peace WITH God first, and then the peace OF God ruling in our hearts, will “cure” a lot of these stress-induced illnesses. For the Christian, we have been left with this most wonderful gift, but it has to be appropriated in our lives by faith and obedience. It’s available to us. In Christ we have so much! He is our Refuge, our Hiding Place, our Strong Tower, our Solid Rock, our Wonderful Counselor, our Prince of peace, and so much more. This world is full of trouble and truly is not for the faint of heart, but I’m so glad we have the One who will walk us through every trial, every stressful moment…and then walk us “home”. Thanks for reminding us of this today, Marvin. A blessed weekend to you and all my ODJ friends!
gagirllive on April 30, 2016 at 10:45 am
By the way, Marvin, the image above your devotional is so picturesque! It’s a reminder to me that even in it’s fallen state, this earth still holds many beautiful places that reflect God’s glory. Peace, of course, is found in the person of Jesus, but if ever there were a place where it could be found, that image would be my top pick. It’s breath-taking! (Sigh) 🙂
sandy229 on April 30, 2016 at 10:49 am
I agree!! I want to walk there along the path like the couple you see in the picture. That is so awesome, it does look so peaceful and breath taking, doesn’t it?
samgaskill on April 30, 2016 at 8:15 pm
Agreed. This picture is truly breath-taking. We can hope and dream that we will one day walk together in the midst of such pure, and untainted beauty! God’s glory! Blessings my sister!
sandy229 on April 30, 2016 at 10:47 am
Casting our cares upon God is a choice. God does not tell us to only give him the problems we can’t handle on our own, He said to give Him all our worries and concerns. It’s a huge mistake to think we can handle things on our own when we soon discover we really can’t. God wants us to give Him ALL our worries and cares. Society teaches people today to be self reliant, but we can only be freed from the burden of concern by choosing to put them in Gods hands. God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. God will give us His perfect peace, all we have to do is depend on Him and be anxious for nothing. We may not understand how God gives us His perfect peace but we don’t have to understand it to experience it. Proverbs 3:5,6. Thanks Marvin for reminding us of God’s perfect peace. Blessings to all my friends in the ODJ family and thank you gagirl.
gagirllive on April 30, 2016 at 11:09 am
Thank you, Sandy, for referring to one of my favorite verses —1 Peter 5:7…”casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” You are so right—this the way to stay in peace!
sandy229 on April 30, 2016 at 11:45 am
You’re welcome! That is one of my “get through life” verses! It’s also one of the verses I memorized when I was in fifth grade, and at the time I really didn’t know what it meant, they were just words but thank God I came to know and understand what it really meant to be able to give God all my worries and cares. 🙂 …. just knowing that God is always there for me and He carries me through the hard times, they don’t seem to much like hard times.
gagirllive on April 30, 2016 at 11:54 am
Isn’t it funny how God, in His infinite grace, plants His word in our hearts at young ages sometimes, and years later after lying dormant, He causes it to spring up and bear fruit! His word never returns void. This is my encouragement as I pray for my two prodigals. So thankful that you truly know the meaning of that verse experientially today, Sandy!
samgaskill on April 30, 2016 at 8:17 pm
Yes, God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him. Contented in His presence. And so true Sandy, we don’t have to understand it all to experience it. Just another example of God’s grace! Blessings to you my friend.
jim spillane on April 30, 2016 at 10:48 am
Marvin – just curious as to why you think that this letter of John (although the author never gives his name, but by the style, subject matter, words, and ideas presented it was assumed to be John) was written to the Ephesians? This letter has no address at all or any reference to anyone in particular. Many believe that it was a circular letter written to a number of churches which had the same sort of problems. It is quite possible that after he was released from Patmos, John, by this time most certainly an “elder” (2 John 1 and 3 John 1), might have spent his remaining years as an old man in Ephesus, but this is also debatable. Not trying to be argumentative here, just inquisitive for history’s sake.
samgaskill on April 30, 2016 at 8:08 pm
Hi friends, appreciate all your comments today. I was just thinking about how much less stress we would experience if we could see ourselves as God sees us. Precious children, learning, growing, stumbling, crying, laughing and everything in between under His watchful eyes and protection. Father in Heaven who sees all and knows all, may we come to a place of divine understanding…..so that we can look and see ourselves through Your patient eyes filled with lovingkindness. We tend to add stressors to our lives when we see our value through the eyes of men. Striving for the A’s in life. Living up to the expectations of those around us; instead of Your expectations. What You desire from us is to have all of us; to be conformed to the image of Your Son. Your presence living in us makes this possible. O Lord, help us to see only Your expectations; set us free from the burdens of worldly pursuit; following other men instead of You. When our self-worth is seen through Your presence with us, we feel safe and unafraid; knowing success measured by the world standards is unlike Your standards. You ask us to come as little children; fully trusting in Your presence. That is an unbelievable freedom and a true stress reducer. In Your name Lord Jesus, we ask You to give us a new image of ourselves that allows for imperfection as we trust You. You will always be our righteousness and we will always be Your children. That will always be enough. Amen.
sandy229 on May 1, 2016 at 9:39 am
Yes, God does see us as His frail little children, coming to Him in the safety of His strong arms. Thank you Mary for your comments.