Harnessing Stress

2 Corinthians 11:22-29

²²Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I. ²³Are they ministers of Christ? I am talking like a madman—I am a better one: with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless floggings, and often near death. ²⁴Five times I have received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. ²⁵Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I received a stoning. Three times I was shipwrecked; for a night and a day I was adrift at sea; ²⁶on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers and sisters; ²⁷in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, hungry and thirsty, often without food, cold and naked. ²⁸And, besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches. ²⁹Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not indignant?

2 Corinthians 12:6-10

…if I wish to boast, I will not be a fool, for I will be speaking the truth. But I refrain from it, so that no one may think better of me than what is seen in me or heard from me, ⁷even considering the exceptional character of the revelations. Therefore, to keep me from being too elated, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me, to keep me from being too elated. ⁸Three times I appealed to the Lord about this, that it would leave me, ⁹but he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.” So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. ¹⁰Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.

When I was a small child the summer was one long “play date.” We would play softball in the alley or go down to the river and fish. On hot days we would walk to the beach to swim or run through the sprinkler or organize a water balloon fight. We played marbles, we caught bugs, we built forts, we hiked down to the marsh or up to the bluffs.

I remember sitting on the sidewalk and studying the ants as they carried things in and out of their nest. I remember lying on my back in the grass and watching the clouds drift by. I don’t remember being worried about much or stressed by anything.

But, then I began to grow up and the world was filled with talk of nuclear war and bomb shelters and the end of the world. I remember asking my Dad if we were going to build a bomb shelter and all he said was, “If I’m going to die because of some bomb, I’m going to die sitting at my kitchen table.” That wasn’t very reassuring for me.

Then I started to notice people and noticed people noticing me (at least I thought they did) and I began to worry about how I looked or about how I fit in. It was at that point that I began to explore things like the Merry Marvel Marching Society. I was looking to belong but I was also looking for security.

I remember when they decided to change the age of majority to 18. Most of my friends were elated because it would allow them to drink legally. All I could think about was the responsibility of being an adult. All of a sudden I had to worry about things like insurance and car payments and being arrested for something (that’s what happens when you are raised by a cop.) I was getting older and my stress level was going up. Then it started to be about finishing school and holding down a job and supporting a family.

For many of us it just continued from there with office politics and recall elections and political campaigns. Now, it’s about civil war in Syria, the economic crisis in Europe and wondering if we’re ever going to be able to retire. Our lives are filled with worry and anxiety and stress.

But, this is not just my story. I’m assuming that this is your story as well.

A new survey by the American Psychological Association suggests “nearly one third of US adults are living with extreme stress, while half believe stress is damaging their relationships, health, and work output.”

Stress can lead to “memory problems, Inability to concentrate, moodiness, irritability or short temperedness, a sense of loneliness and isolation OR PHYSICAL SYMPTOMS like Aches and pains, Chest pain, rapid heartbeat and frequent colds. It can raise blood pressure, suppress the immune system, increase the risk of heart attack and stroke, contribute to infertility, and speed up the aging process. Long-term stress can even rewire the brain, leaving you more vulnerable to anxiety and depression.”

So, the question isn’t do we have stress? The question is HOW DO WE DEAL WITH STRESS?

MAYBE WE NEED TO GO BACK TO THAT TIME WHEN STRESS WASN’T SUCH A BIG DEAL. Maybe we need to become like little children. I know, it sounds like I’m talking about an episode from the “Twilight Zone” but I think the principle is sound.

WHEN WE WERE SMALL (if we were fortunate) WE LIVED IN AN ATMOSPHERE OF SECURITY.  We DIDN’T WORRY ABOUT FOOD, SHELTER, CLOTHING BECAUSE SOMEONE ELSE WAS TAKING CARE OF those things FOR US and we trusted that they would come through. We were able to live in peace because someone bigger than us was making sure that we were cared for.

This is the principle that Jesus was talking about in the Sermon on the Mount when he said,

²⁵“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, or about your body, what you will wear. 

²⁶Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? ²⁷And can any of you by worrying add a single hour to your span of life? ²⁸And why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, ²⁹yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these. ³⁰But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? MATTHEW 6:25a, 26-30

The goal isn’t to recapture our childhood. The goal is to find a relationship with the One who is able to provide peace for us even in the midst of our complicated and stressful lives.

What I have been sent to remind you of is that our God (our personal God) is able to care for you. So, you can let go of your worries and fears and KNOW that God will work with you and in you to make things right.

Paul is an example of that child-like trust that triumphs over the worries of our lives. In his letter to the Corinthians, Paul listed a whole string of challenges that he had faced because of his commitment to Jesus: imprisonments, floggings, stonings, shipwreaks, bandits, hunger, thirst and on top of that he carried the “daily pressure” of his “anxiety for all the churches.”

²⁸And, besides other things, I am under daily pressure because of my anxiety for all the churches. ²⁹Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I am not indignant? 2 Corinthians 11:28-29

Many people (maybe even “most” people) would have buckled under all of the kinds of challenges that Paul had faced AND many people would have responded by taking a big step away from God (whether because of guilt or out of anger — I guess it makes little difference), BUT apparently Paul responded to the challenges in his life by moving closer to the God who had called him, forgiven him and sent him out to proclaim Good News.

Because of that decision Paul’s relationship with God became richer and his confidence in God became stronger AND the stress in his life didn’t break him.

Like Paul, we have a choice. We can let the “stressors” in our lives move us away from God or we can allow our challenges to move us into the arms of God. We can either run from him or come home to him and allow him to comfort us and care for us.

The Good News is that in the presence of God there is HOPE AND PEACE AND STRENGTH. That’s why Paul was able to say,

¹⁰Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.  2 Corinthians 12:10

God’s love is unending and God’s grace is sufficient for all of the challenges we face in our lives. So, the spiritual prescription for people whose lives are filled with stress is to move closer to God.

I know that many times we (clergy) sound like we are needlessly repeating the same things over and over again AND I know that people have interpreted many of the things we keep pushing as just another set of unnecessary obligations BUT THAT’S BECAUSE MANY OF US HAVE NEVER COME TO UNDERSTAND THAT A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE LIVING GOD ACTUALLY WORKS TO CHANGE THE WAY WE LIVE OUR LIVES. We are offering an opportunity for ordinary people (like you and me) to find peace in a world filled with turmoil. We are PROCLAIMING THE GOOD NEWS that there is hope for healing our deepest pains in the presence of the living Jesus.

So, one more time I will suggest that we all need to spend more time…

            MEDITATING ON GOD’S WORD.

            Spending time in the scriptures REMINDS US THAT GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US AND he is able to GIVE US the COURAGE AND the STRENGTH we need TO ACCOMPLISH HIS work and his WILL in the world and be his people IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES (just like he did in the lives of Paul and Peter and Philip and John.)

            We also need to find time…

            TO BE ALONE WITH GOD

            In our world silence and solitude are in short supply and we need to find (or even create) times when we can meditate, pray and let God calm our hearts. Time with God IS ESSENTIAL TO OUR SPIRITUAL HEALTH AND for REJUVENATING our MINDS IN TIMES OF STRESS.

            And we need to begin to PRACTICE BEING THANKFUL no matter what it is we are going through. Thankfulness says that we believe God is still in charge and that he will take what we are facing and use it to make us better people and use it to make a difference in someone else’s life.

            Some time back we talked about Paul who was imprisoned for his faith in Jesus thanking God for the opportunity to tell the Roman guards about new life in Christ. Apparently, Paul had found something in his relationship with Jesus that gave him confidence that God was still in charge and this confidence provided peace for his soul.

            It is time for us to re-discover what it’s like to lie down on our backs in the grass and watch the clouds go by AND know that our Father loves us and he is taking care of everything we need.

Where Do We Get Self Worth?

Romans 5:8

⁸But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

Romans 8:37-39

³⁷No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor rulers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, ³⁹nor height, nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

            As a child I decided to join the “Huckleberry Hound Fan Club” which meant that I was an official fan of Huckleberry Hound. That’s about it. I got a membership card (which I STILL HAVE) and a button with Huckleberry Hound’s picture on it. I wrote MY NAME on the membership card (IN PENCIL) and I put it in my wallet. That’s about it.

            THEN at some point I also decided to become a member of the Merry Marvel Marching Society (Marvel Comics.) For a dollar they not only sent me a membership card but also a letter that read (in part)…

Congratulations, favored one!

From this day forth, you will stand a little straighter, speak a little wiser, and walk a little prouder.

You’ve joined the winning team!

Henceforth, you shall never march alone.

Thus, we welcome you to the fold with this sagacious admonition-FACE FRONT. You're one of us now. 'Nuff said!

            Along with that I got a button (which I still have) that says, “MAKE MINE MARVEL” and a record so I could learn the Merry Marvel Marching Society theme song, which I did:

You belong, you belong, you belong, you belong to the Merry Marvel Marching Society. March along, march along, march along to the song of the Merry Marvel Marching Society. If you growl, if you groan, and your star is nearly zero, do not howl, do not moan, you can be a superhero, marching right along to the fighting song of the Merry Marvel Marching Society.

            I listened to that record over and over and over again. I desperately wanted to feel good about myself. I didn’t need to be a superhero; I simply wanted someone to tell me that I was good enough to belong AND that’s what the Merry Marvel Marching Society did for me.

            It wasn’t life changing (not in the permanent sense) but it was a moment when I had some hope that I could be OK. AND as long as I stuck with my comic books and listened to the record it seemed to be working. But, even in the 60’s, a dollar could only go so far and the real world had (even then) a tendency to swallow us up. Eventually the button and the record went into a drawer and I went back to wondering if anyone really cared and if I would ever really be good enough to belong.

            I think it is kind of ironic (considering what I do for a living) that the church wasn’t that place. But it seemed to me (at the time) that we were just going through the motions…nothing seemed to apply to my life…it wasn’t my decision to be there. When I was confirmed they gave me a bible with my name on it (but up to that point I had never really read the bible and having one with my name on didn’t really change that.) I think I would have been happier with a button and a record. I know, now, that I should have come away from that experience with a deep sense of God’s love for me and I should have understood that I was part of a kingdom movement, a family of faith and the communion of the saints. But, the reality was that that didn’t happen.

GOD AFFIRMS US BY LOVING US UNCONDITIONALLY

            What I needed to hear was that I was uniquely special BECAUSE God said it was so AND that God loved me unconditionally. The sad thing is that maybe they did and I wasn’t listening but that means that they needed to say it over and over again until I understood like Paul said in his letter to the people in Rome.

Romans 5:8

⁸But God proves his love for us in that while we still were sinners Christ died for us.

            God didn’t wait for me to be good enough…he didn’t even wait for me to find him…he went through a process that would open the door for me so that I could become the person I was meant to be…he worked it out so that I could live with him and he could live IN me.

GOD MADE US, AND ALL HIS WORKS ARE WONDERFUL

            And once I was willing to take down the walls and let him into my life then he began to convince me that I was not some cosmic accident. My life has always been a part of his design, “I am fearfully and wonderfully made.”

Psalm 139:13-14

¹³ For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb.

¹⁴ I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

            The people who live around us in the world (and we ourselves) will always be tempted to see what is on the outside AND we will make judgments about people based on their height, weight, facial features, style of clothes and the car they drive. If we’re not careful we will get sucked into that way of thinking and most of us will come up short. We will never have enough stuff and we will never be pretty enough or handsome enough.

            What we are meant to learn is that God sees us differently.

There is a story in the Old Testament about the selection of David as King of Israel to replace Saul. The prophet Samuel was called by God to go to the home of Jesse because one of his sons was going to be the new king. So Jesse lines the boys up from oldest to youngest and parades them past Samuel. It says, in 1 Samuel 16…

1 Samuel 16:6-7

⁶When they came, he (Samuel) looked on Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed is now before the Lord.” ⁷But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the Lord does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

            The Lord does not see as mortals see. He knows us. He sees us as precious. He was willing to come and live with us and die for us so that we could know how precious we really are.

            So, where does our self-esteem come from? Where do we find self-worth?

            The answer is that we find our hope and our joy and our peace in the PRESENCE of the living God.

            The Merry Marvel Marching Society didn’t really work because it was all made up; it was a fantasy. I didn’t need an alternative universe to try to live in…I needed the living God to step into my universe and live with me HERE and begin to change the way I saw myself, the people around me and the world that I lived in.

            Confirmation didn’t work for me because I needed someone to introduce me to this living God who was able to truly make my life a marvel. I learned facts and dates and the answers to specific questions but I didn’t learn to love Jesus or to be loved by Jesus.

           

            The real wonder of this movement we call Christianity is that it is centered on a relationship with a living God who is able to take ordinary people and give them a new heart so that they learn to love sacrificially and new eyes so that they begin to see the world (and themselves) in a new way.

            Where does our self-esteem come from? Where do we find self-worth?

            First, it is a journey. It doesn’t happen overnight but it is a journey that begins when we are willing to tear down the walls that keep us at a distance from God and then invite him in to be the LORD of our lives.

            The Gospel could be as simple this: You have been invited to belong to a family as old as time. You invited into a Kingdom that is working to redeem the world. You are being invited to come close to a God who sees you as precious as you are. You can become a new person through trusting in Jesus. That journey can begin today.

            Here are some suggestions for things that you might do to begin that journey to new life:

                        First, work on developing your INNER BEAUTY.

                                    SPEND TIME WITH GOD and GET TO KNOW THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU.

LEARN TO PRAY. Learn to open your heart to the living God who loves you and wants to be at work in you AND through you.

LEARN TO REFLECT ON WHAT GOD HAS SAID. Learn from his wisdom. Take your bible off of the shelf and make it a living part of your life.

SPEND TIME WITH THE BEAUTY OF GOD’S CREATION and BE REMINDED THAT GOD DOESN’T MAKE “JUNK.”

FOCUS ON YOUR ABILITIES NOT ON YOUR WEAKNESSES and then learn to USE YOUR GIFTS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE.

One step at a time you will begin to know that you belong, you belong, you belong, you belong. God is calling you home.