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From the Editor From the Editor

Finding Balance in a Stress-Filled World

By Arlene Allen

Watch this editorial in streaming video!When you’re confronted with an unreasonable boss, a distressing marriage, a financial nightmare, an impossible schedule—what should you do? In which case should you quietly endure the pressure? When should you speak up? And when should you try to get out from under it?

In the month of January at WTOnline we will be dealing with these and many other stress filled situations. We have all felt the squeeze of pressure. Sometimes it’s a viselike grip that pushes us to the border of panic. But most of the time it’s an annoying hold that can drain our energy and sap our joy. The everyday elements of life can crowd in and threaten to overwhelm us.

It happened again. As the Israelites encountered danger, shortages, and inconvenience (see Exodus 16), they complained bitterly and longed to be back in Egypt. But as always, God provided for their needs. Handling your pressures biblically is a tough job. But it is possible. 

Difficult circumstances often lead to stress, and complaining is a natural response. The Israelites didn’t really want to be back in Egypt; they just wanted life to get a little easier. In the pressure of the moment, they could not focus on the cause of their stress (in this case, lack of trust in God); they could only think about the quickest way of escape.

When pressure comes your way, resist the temptation to make a quick escape. Instead, focus on God’s power and wisdom to help you deal with the cause of your stress.

Applying God’s perspective to the pressures of our lives is rarely a simple matter of finding a relevant verse and doing what it says. God calls on us to think. We need to examine our situation from what we know of God’s perspective, then make choices and adopt attitudes that reflect Him.

In his book The Purpose-Driven Life, author Rick Warren suggests that we ask ourselves, Does this activity help me fulfill one of God’s purposes for my life? If the answer is yes, we should embrace it with gusto. If the answer is no, we should release it—without guilt. Sounds simple, doesn’t it? In truth, determining God’s purposes may take some serious soul-searching and a conscientious commitment to pursue them no matter what. We may have to thin our existing obligations or learn to say no.

God never intended our lives to mimic the hamster on the treadmill. He wants to us enjoy abundant, fruitful life!

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