Stress

Stress

Class Notes

January 15, 2011

Larry R Evans

Introduction

Life is filled with stress and each of us is confronted with it in some form every day. Some dread getting up in the morning so stress begins their day. I happen to dread going to bed but look forward to getting up—I never did like taking naps growing up. For some there is stress in the family, on the job and even with their health. The question before us this week isn’t so much how can we avoid it, although we sometimes create unnecessary stress for ourselves by the choices we make. Rather we will focus more on how can we cope with it constructively. Each of us come packaged with a whole set of unique circumstances so this week we will be looking for principles to live by rather than casting blame and judgments. As an introduction to this week’s study and reflection I share two quotes which I have captured from some books I recently read. They were not written to address the subject of stress but they do have a bearing on how we relate to ourselves, our circumstances and with our God.

“Human need is always more apparent than God’s presence for the same reason that the earth always looks flat. The human need is very visible in sickness, the loneliness, the boredom, and the busyness, while all the signs and symbols of God’s word and presence are several miles away in the church sanctuary. That is why so many of us [clergy] perform more like psychological therapists than Christian priests when we are out of the pulpit. Our awareness of human need crowds out and then takes precedence over our attentiveness to God’s presence.” (Eugene Peterson, Under the Unpredictable Plant, p.194)

“Faith is a redirecting of our sight, a getting out of the focus of our own vision and getting God into focus. Sin has twisted our vision inward and made it self-regarding. Unbelief has put self where God should be, and is perilously close to the sin of Lucifer who said, ‘I will set my throne above the throne of God.’ Faith looks out instead of in and the whole life falls into line.

All this may seem too simple. But we have no apology to make. To those who would seek to climb into heave after help or descend into hell, God says, ‘The word is nigh thee, even . . . the word of faith.’ (Romans 10:8). The Word induces us to lift up our eyes unto the Lord and the blessed work of faith begins.” (A.W. Tozer, In Pursuit of God, p.85)

Being patient, waiting to see the bigger picture, is never easy. The world will always look flat if our world view doesn’t encompass more than what we can actually see at the time. Faith doesn’t come easily and often it is made more difficult because while we say we trust God, He isn’t always the real object of our focus. If we find any of this to be true for ourselves then the “good news” is that we aren’t alone. Even prophets of old like Elijah struggled with the same sense of being overwhelmed with the challenges of life. None of us are alone or forgotten. There is a God who cares. We have not been abandoned. That’s one of the important messages coming from the cross and the resurrection!

Questions for Reflection and Class Discussion

1. The life of Elijah reveals that the closer one is to God the less stress one will have. (1 Ki 17:2-6, 15,16) False

Elijah is introduced to us during a time of crisis in Israel. Ahab had become king and of him Scripture did not hold back its strong disapproval of his leadership: “Ahab son of Omri did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him.” (1Ki 16:30) To correct such an evil trend meant sending a prophet into an extremely stressful situation. To be sent by God assumes God had confidence in Elijah. We have no indication that Elijah campaigned for the job. He was sent into the midst of deep apostasy as God’s voice. As we shall see there was a real occupational hazard with this job assignment which we call “stress.” Being close to God and His will for us does not necessarily mean we will have less stress. Elijah’s stress certainly increased as he became the man of the hour.

2. Successes as well as failures can bring stress. (1 Ki 18) True

Elijah’s problem with stress only increased with his success! You remember the story of Mt. Carmel. Elijah had a face-off with the Baal priests who had been distorting the very character of God. Previous to this he had prophesied that there would be “neither dew nor rain” except at his word and all of this because of the sinful practices led by the King of Israel. (1Ki 17:1). With these words still echoing in the ears of Ahab Elijah went into hiding. Imagine the stress after giving the king such an inflammatory prophecy. However, Elijah’s words were proven to be true. A severe drought came upon the land. Elijah’s prophetic role was vindicated. He was successful! But success came with a price. However, in recognition of the stress, the Lord fed him using ravens and then multiplied a widow’s oil and flour so that Elijah as well as the widow and her son could be fed without worry of running out of food. Amazing! In the midst of stress the Lord provided enough resources to keep the stress within safe limits. Elijah’s own confidence in the provisions of the Lord, however, was also critical. That was not always the case as we shall see.

3. We can add stress to the lives of others and to our own. (Jn 11:35; Matt 26:33-35, 69-75) True

Perhaps we should pause in our story of Elijah to ask an obvious question: can people add stress to the lives of others? A second and more personal question is this: “Can we be the ones who are adding stress to the lives of others around us!” Ouch . . . but it’s true. At times we may not be the victim of stress but the one who creates it! This double-sided view of stress is everywhere in Scripture. Jesus was not only the recipient of stress but He also created it. Let’s face it. Some stress is unavoidable but how we relate to it is vital.

We are emotional beings – we were created that way. When the Bible tells us that “Jesus wept” (Jn.11:35) it does so to share the deep feelings Jesus had over the loss of a loved one (Lazrus) and the sadness it brought to others. Love does have a price to pay with the loss of a family member but the gift of that love is cherished. In the midst of Christ’s own grief, the accusing fingers of doubt were pointed at him: “But some of them said, ‘Could not he who opened the eyes of the blind man have kept this man from dying?” (Jn 11:37) Such comments at a time of deep emotional stress is cruel and not unlike comments made about those who suffer because of their own doing – “Well he gets what he deserves for living like he did!” Ever hear anything like that? It’s not uncommon to hear that implied regarding victims of AIDS, for example.

Then what about Peter! Three times he denied Jesus despite his resolution to never do such a thing. No doubt this was hard on Jesus but that is obvious. The other question is, “How do you think Peter felt about his own failure to live up to his own expectations!” Peter hurt himself. Many times the greatest enemy we have is the enemy inside. Peter crumbled when he heard the rooster crow! It was the One whom he had denied that later restored him and his lost self-esteem. Isn’t that what happened with the father and the prodigal son? The situation of the son’s rebellion was hard on both but in the end the father stepped in to restore his son. When he did the stress of both the father and the son left and the relationship was closer than ever. Stress can be remedial if we allow it to lead us down a constructive path.

4. When under stress we are more vulnerable to temptation. (1 Ki 19:3,4) True or False?

Let’s pick up the story of Elijah as he was running from Jezebel in fear of his own life.

1 Kings 19:3-5

3 Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, 4 while he himself went a day's journey into the desert. He came to a broom tree, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. "I have had enough, LORD," he said. "Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors." 5 Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. (NIV)

Stress was obvious. Elijah was exhausted and afraid and hope of escape had vanished. He felt he was nearing a dead end. His focus was on himself and he began to berate himself and he lost his life ambition and even the desire to live. Elijah was stressed out and such thoughts as “Take my life; I’ am no better than my ancestors.” reveal a disappointment with himself, confused thinking and a sense of hopelessness. It need not be that way. Note the following insights and how Elijah’s plight was being driven by Satan’s master plan.

Satan attacks us at our weakest points, but we need not be overcome. However severe or unexpected the attack, God has provided help for us, and in his strength we may conquer. In the hour of greatest need when discouragement overwhelms the soul, then it is that Jesus comes very near. The hour of man's necessity is God's opportunity. He sees our danger and provides help for us. Unseen by us, he saves us from the foe. Let us praise him at all times. He is always near us, and he never fails to send us help in every time of need. {RH, April 18, 1907 par. 4}

“Satan lays his plans to press his temptations upon the very men whom God has signified that He would accept to act a part in connection with His work. It is Satan's study to know how he can best war against and defeat the purposes of God. He is acquainted with the weak as well as the strong points in the characters of men. And in a subtle manner he works with all deceivableness of unrighteousness to thwart the purposes of God by assailing the weak points in their characters; and when this is done, the way is prepared for him to attack and overcome the stronger points. He gains control of the mind and blinds the understanding. He leads men who are bewildered and overcome by his devices to self-confidence and self-sufficiency at the very time when they are the weakest in moral power. They become self-deceived and think they are in good spiritual condition. {3T 469.1}

5. The stressful experience of Elijah reveals that discouragement does not have to have the last word. (1Ki 19:3-5, 14; 2 Ki 2:7-11) True

Overwhelmed with discouragement Elijah cocooned himself into a deep sleep. Though some resort to this when discouraged an angel had other plans for Elijah:

1 Kings 19:5-9

Then he lay down under the tree and fell asleep. All at once an angel touched him and said, "Get up and eat." 6 He looked around, and there by his head was a cake of bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again. 7 The angel of the LORD came back a second time and touched him and said, "Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you." 8 So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God. 9 There he went into a cave and spent the night. (NIV)

The first thing we need to note here is that the angel recognized the bodily needs of Elijah and stress can raise an awareness of some health needs. “Get up and eat.” was followed by more sleep. The second time the angel came the command came to “get up and eat” again but this time sleep was not part of the formula.

I’m reminded of the story of a mother trying to get her son out of bed and off to school. Her son was obviously going to be late if he didn’t get up. She said, “Son, you’re going to be late for school” to which the son replied, “I don’t care. I don’t want to go.” When the mother came back and found the son still in bed she repeated her command, “Get up you are going to be late!” Once again the son replied that he didn’t want to go to school and then added, “but the kids don’t like me!” The mother then said, “That doesn’t matter. You’ve got to go. You’re the principal!!”

A point does come after the health needs are cared for that we must act on our belief. We have to “Get up. Quit focusing on ourselves and get on with the task at hand.” Elijah did so and I think he did so reluctantly. But something happened after that, however, that brought additional healing:

You remember the story. God met him in the cave and asked why he was there. Elijah told his “poor me” story – “I am the only one left.” God didn’t argue with him though that wasn’t true. The answer Elijah needed and the answer those who are discouraged need often is not found in the questions they ask. God simply said, “Stand back.” Stand back into my presence and I will make myself known. And God did. But he didn’t do it the way Elijah was expecting. God’s presence wasn’t in the powerful wind storm, nor in the mighty earthquake or quenching fire. I mean if you were wanting some serious answers wouldn’t want a display of power. But you see, God does work in our conventional ways. The Bible simply says that God responded with a “gentle whisper” (1Ki 19:12) and with that Elijah knew he was in the presence of God. But God wasn’t through, He asked Elijah the same question again but now the context of God’s presence was established: “Why are you here, Elijah?” I have a feeling that God has the same question for each of us – “Why are you here? Why are you so melancholic? Have you forgotten who I am?

To God’s question Elijah repeated his story. Still God did not get into an argument with Elijah but simply told him to “Go”, Go back the way you came. (v.15) And Elijah did. And now he was ready to discover the rest of the story. And God told him the amazing story of there being 7,000 others who had not bowed down to Baal. Elijah’s “poor me” story had limited his own understanding of the grace of God. Stress can do that to one’s thinking. Fortunately for us, God understands our human emotions and limitations. What is amazing is that despite Elijah’s limiting views of God’s power and grace, God still invited Elijah to come home with him . . . immediately. And Elijah was translated as a testimony to all those who would be tempted to allow stress to limit their view to what God can do. I have the feeling when we get to heaven we will have the same kind of surprise . . . Oh, now I see what you mean. In the meantime it might be for our own good to listen for the “gentle whisper” of God’s voice where we will find it more helpful than even the biggest earthquake or hottest fire.

Reflective Conclusion

Stress reminds us that we are human and that we do have our limits. Elijah’s experience is so much like ours. At times we can speak boldly for God but when stress wears us down we are likely to ask God, “Where have you been!”God’s people through the ages have at times also asked that question. It is the human thing to do. But if we really want answers we need to first hear His “gentle whisper” asking Us “What are you doing here?” Such a question asks us to see more than our immediate need. As Eugene Petersen wrote, “Human need is always more apparent than God’s presence for the same reason that the earth always looks flat.” .” (Eugene Peterson, Under the Unpredictable Plant, p.194)

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle is plays an important part in being able to reduce unnecessary stress and to have the necessary physical, mental and spiritual reserves to meet life’s challenges. And when it comes to the unanswered questions that we will undoubtedly want to ask it is good to keep the bigger picture in mind:

“The Lord estimates as of supreme importance the holiness of his people; and he permits reverses to come upon individuals, upon families, and upon churches, that his people may see their danger, and humble their hearts before him in repentance. He chastens his children in the hope of saving their souls. Those who return to him, he receives with tenderness and love. He speaks pardon to them, and clothes them with the garments of Christ's righteousness.” {EG White in RH, September 24, 1903 par. 1}