The Good Side of Stress
By Lexi Cole Ellis
“When anxiety was great within me,
your consolation brought me joy.”
Psalm 94:19 (NIV)
My mom
sent me a TEDtalk called “How to Make Stress Your Friend” [1] back in October 2013. I’m just getting around to watching it.
(Sorry, Mom.) Though not overtly spiritual, Kelly McGonigal’s two points were absolutely
biblical.
Her
first point was the necessity of changing our perception of stress. Multiple
studies showed that those who identified high stress, but believed their stress
response was helpful lived just as long as those with relatively no stress. She
encouraged a perspective change: that “pounding heart is preparing you for
action. If you're breathing faster, it's no problem. It's getting
more oxygen to your brain…This is my body helping me rise to this challenge.” [2]
We
know from Scripture that how we choose to view things matters. The Apostle Paul
calls us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12). Similarly,
we know we have a choice on what to think about. Later in Philippians, Paul
encourages believers to choose a Christ-like perspective of dwelling on
“whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure,
whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable” (Philippians 4:8a, ESV). Moreover,
we are called to consider trials “pure joy” because we can anticipate seeing
how God will work in seemingly horrific situations (James 1:2-4).
The
second point of the stress talk was that stress biologically invokes our need to
connect and be with others. “Your stress response wants to make sure you
notice when someone else in your life is struggling so that you can
support each other. When life is difficult, your stress response
wants you to be surrounded by people who care about you.” [2]
God’s
very design calls us into meaningful community with others. We were created for
relationship with God and with others. Stress reminds us of our need to be in a
support system. Scripture is filled with calls to “stir up one another to love
and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but
encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25a, ESV). Similarly, we are instructed
to “bear one another’s burdens” (Galatians 6:2, ESV) and reminded that “two are
better than one” (Ecclesiastes 4:9, ESV).
I
can’t get rid of stress, but I do have the opportunity to change my perspective
of it and to be reminded that stress provides the impetus to draw me into godly
community.
GOING
DEEPER:
1.
Identify the stresses in your life. How do you often respond to
them?
2.
What do you need to do differently with your stresses?
Lexi and her husband, Andrew, have an adorable dog named Calvin.
Lexi teaches sixth grade Reading and Writing. She serves with Children’s
Ministries and is the Fresh Start Coordinator.
[1] You
can watch the 14-minute talk by clicking HERE.
[2]McGonigal,
Kelly. TED talk, “How to Make Stress Your Friend.” June 2013.
