Hello Family,
This Friday’s message is centered on managing stress, burnout, and anxiety. I’ve noticed a lot of people that I interact with regularly have been experiencing fatigue, feeling overwhelmed, and are in dire need of a reset.
Honestly, I too have been experiencing a great deal of stress. I’ve been working HARD, with 2 jobs, an internship, a full class load, while also working to apply to jobs for life after undergrad. Needless to say I have a lot going on. It can be so easy to sacrifice quiet time with Jesus, self-care, and REST, when you have a ton of responsibilities occupying your time and attention.
I want you to know that Jesus cares about your stress, mental health, work load, and pending responsibilities. It can be difficult to fathom that such a big God cares about the intricacies of your life, relationships, and daily tasks, but HE REALLY DOES CARE.
Here are some scriptures that have been helpful for me in moments of stress and despondency:
Philippians 4:6-7 —“6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
Matthew 11:28-30 – “28 Then Jesus said, “Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you. Let me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy to bear, and the burden I give you is light.””
John 14:27 – “27 “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”
Psalm 55:22 – “22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you.He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.”
In addition to reading through these scripture and asking the Holy Spirit to help you apply them to your life, you should be taking care of yourself (i.e. self-care). What is your self-care routine? How can you incorporate the things you love into your weekly schedule? Are you eating 2-3 meals a day? Are you sleeping 8-9 hours a night?
In addition to maintaining a healthy spiritual life, it is mandatory that you maintain a healthy physical life. Yes you are made of both spirit and flesh, but what good are you to yourself and the world around you when your flesh or spirit is weak?
This weekend and week coming up I encourage you to make a self-care plan. Write out anticipated meal prep, time that you’ll spend with God, some self-care activities to get done during the week, and an accountability system to ensure that you follow through on your plan.
I LOVE YOU & JESUS LOVES YOU MOST! STAY ENCOURAGED. KEEP FIGHTING! I beg you, please don’t give up. Your life is so valuable, you are a person of purpose, and most of all you’re LOVED in abundance. Stay Fruitful!
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CITATION:
Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
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