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Jesus' Keys to Cope With Stress -- Expositions
From Matthew
Matthew
In our hurry-up, pressure-cooker world, everyone knows about stress. Such
pressure comes from the various demands our fast-paced life places on us.
Sometimes, they seem like they will pull us apart.
Reading through the Gospel of Matthew, we can observe major crisis moments in
Jesus' own life, noting how the Lord handled each stressful situation. This
inductive study yields five "keys" to cope with various kinds of stress in our
own lives. We cannot escape stress in this world. However, by faith and trusting
obedience to Jesus' example, we can manage to keep from being "stressed out."
REMEMBER GOD'S WORD (Matthew 3:16 -- 4:11).
No sooner had God confirmed Jesus' identity and mission at his baptism than
Satan called it into question in the wilderness temptations. Temptation to sin
is seductive stress. Each time, however, Jesus responded by saying, "It is
written..." He quotes from Deuteronomy, which is the ancient record and review
of God's "son" Israel, who also went through the water into the desert to be
tested regarding trust in God. Jesus knew and expertly used the very best
Scripture to blunt each temptation. In the stressful arrest in Gethsemane,
instead of abandoning His mission, Jesus focused on fulfilling Scripture to help
Him stay the course (Matthew 26:54,56).
Instead of falling prey to our changing moods and surging urges, contemplating
Scripture helps to refocus our minds in the calm light of unchanging, eternal
truth. "Those who love Your law have great peace, and nothing causes them to
stumble" (Psa 119:165). Fill your heart continually with God's Word, which is
the instrument by which the Holy Spirit encourages and strengthens you in times
of trial.
DO GOD'S WORK (Matthew 8-9).
As Jesus entered on his ministry of teaching, healing, teaching and exorcism,
the needs and demands placed on Him were tremendous. This is the stress of
overwhelming demands, with seemingly too much to do and too little time to do
it. However, Jesus faced the situation without despair by doing what God had
sent him to do -- day by day, dealing with one person at a time. He never was
flustered nor "lost His cool."
When the task seems too enormous to bear, remember that we can only breathe one
breath at a time, do one thing at a time, take one step at a time and live one
day at a time. We must prioritize our actions to "seek first the kingdom of God
and His righteousness" (Matt. 6:33). Do not let trivial things obscure the vital
things we ought to be and can be doing. Simply do whatever you know God has
given you to do for that moment and that day, without "biting off more than you
can chew." Also, consider this saying: "We must stop stewing and start doing!"
Stress can come from an over active mind and an underactive body. God will be
with us each step of the way. He will give us strength and guidance for each
challenge confronting us.
REST IN GOD'S SOVEREIGNTY (Matthew 11:20-30).
Some cities which saw most of Jesus' miracles still did not believe in him. This
is the stress of disappointing results. Yet, Jesus' response was a joy-filled
heart and a prayer to God -- who is always in charge and whose work will never
be defeated.
When our agenda crashes, our hopes wither and our plans fail, we must rest in
the knowledge that God has an eternal purpose. Remember with Jesus to proclaim
before God: "Your will be done!" (Matt. 26:42). He alone is in ultimate control
of the universe and eternity. There is not enough power in hell to defeat God in
the accomplishment of His purpose. No one will ever thwart his master plan for
the salvation of all those whom he has graciously determined to redeem.
SEEK GOD'S PRESENCE (Matthew 14:12-13, 23).
When word came that John the Baptist, Jesus' cousin, forerunner and friend, had
been beheaded, Jesus went out in a boat to a lonely place by himself, apart from
all human company. To cope with the stress of tragedy, Jesus made time for
intimate communion with the Father. He drew strength and direction for His
Messianic task. Also, when the clamoring crowds tried to make Jesus a political
king (John 6:15), Jesus refused the stress of popular pressure by going "on the
mountain by Himself to pray" (v. 23).
The same powerful resource of prayer is ours today, if we will seek and receive
it, for the work God has entrusted to us (Heb. 4:16). Prayer can relieve the
stress we face and soothe our soul (Phil. 4:6-7).
TRUST GOD'S FAITHFULNESS (Matthew 26:36-44).
In the Garden of Gethsemane and again on the Cross, Jesus entrusted himself to
the Father's will. In the stress of pain and sorrow, He was confident, even in
His abandonment on the cross, that death would not have the final word. He
voluntarily yielded up His spirit to the Father's safekeeping (Matt. 27:50).
Sometimes, life reveals no quick answers, no simple solutions, no ready escapes. Yet, God is always faithful. We can always entrust ourselves to his care, with full confidence and without any reserve. He can see us through today's stress to tomorrow, even unto the day of eternity.
By W. Frank Walton
From Expository Files 4.8; August 1997
