When under Stress These will Help

However strong a faith you have, however committed you are in your relationship with God it is certain that from time to time you will feel yourself under great stress, fighting depression or misery, dejection and anxiety and sometimes so disheartened that you wonder if you can carry on. What makes this state of affairs more galling is that you might have done nothing wrong to contribute to this situation and, try as you may, you cannot place your finger on exactly what is causing you such discomfort.

This is the Job syndrome and it happens occasionally to every believer.

You will recall that Job was an upright, God-fearing man of great credibility with God and highly favoured, yet through no fault on his part the skies, as it were, fell on him and devastated him and caused him so much pain that his caring wife, and yes she was quite caring for Job, asked him to curse God and die. Job's wife was so sorry to see him in such a wretched state of prolonged agony and sorrow that she thought he would be better off dead.

I have heard of some believers who would rather die and go to their heavenly Father rather than carry on in this life the way they are. I have personally met a few such and, truth be told, am full of sympathy for their plight.

But Job did not surrender to the atrocity of circumstances nor allow outrageous misfortune to overwhelm him and drive him to a snivelling, defeatist early grave. No he did not. When all his friends thought that he had committed a whole slate of iniquities and convinced Job that God was meting out just punishment for his sins, he resolutely refused to be cowed into submission and lose faith in God. To think that God was doing all this to him, he thought amidst his suffering, and yet he knew he was innocent and so undeserving.

But instead of railing against God and arguing from a standpoint of undeserved suffering he contented himself with one of the most powerful, most moving pronouncements that has ever come forth from a victim experiencing enormous distress. Here is what he said:

"Even though he slays me yet will I trust him" (Job 14:6)

Job was wrong to think that God was clobbering him; it was Satan's doing but with God's express permission.

Job was mistaken to think that God enabled it to crush and humiliate him; on the contrary it was because of God's admiration for Job, and his knowledge that Job would stand firm, that permitted God to allow Satan to do his wickedness.

Satan relished inflicting pain on Job, but little did he know that it was precisely because of these horrible afflictions that Job is the standout saint in all history of a committed believer who point blank refuses to distrust God in the most ghastly circumstances. Remember this gem of a quote, "For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand at the latter day upon the earth: And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my flesh shall I see God." (Job 19:25-26)

God intended that Job's example would shine as a radiant beacon throughout history for all believers, for all time, showing them the need to stand firm in the faith in all circumstances; and especially so when in such distressing circumstances the heart's desire is to seek ease and comfort and accommodation.

Job knew the secret of maintaining his integrity and his trust in God when he was being tortured for he completely trusted God and his word and never gave up.

Believers today need to do just that; trust God and his word however adverse the situation, however fraught the battle, however dire the circumstances and allow the grace of God to do its grand work in and through us.

Here are some scriptures that you will find helpful as you face your particular situations.

WHEN YOU ARE DISCOURAGED:

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. " (Psalm 55:22)

"Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.  He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." (Isaiah 40:28-31)

"They that sow in tears shall reap in joy. He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him." (Psalms 126:5-6)

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." (Psalm 27:14)

WHEN YOU ARE DISAPPOINTED:

"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." (Romans 8:28)

"Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:5-6)

"The LORD is good, a strong hold in the day of trouble; and he knoweth them that trust in him." (Nahum 1:7)

WHEN YOU ARE SAD:

"The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee." (Psalm 9:9-10)

"Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy. If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified." (1 Peter 4:12-14)

"I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved." (Psalm 16:8)

WHEN YOU ARE WEARY:

"And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not." (Galatians 6:9)

"Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." (Psalm 27:14)

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (James 1:2-4)

WHEN YOU ARE BEREAVED:

"And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them." (Revelation 14:13)

"But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18)

"Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you." (1 Peter 5:7)

"He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved." (Psalm 62:6)

"And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and he will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away." (Revelation 21:1-4)

WHEN YOU ARE ANXIOUS:

"Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith? Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things." (Matthew 6:30-32)

"Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness." (Isaiah 41:10)

"God is not a man, that he should lie; neither the son of man, that he should repent: hath he said, and shall he not do it? or hath he spoken, and shall he not make it good?" (Numbers 23:19)

"For I the LORD thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee." (Isaiah 41:13)

WHEN YOU ARE TROUBLED:

"We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed." (2 Corinthians 4:8-9)

"These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33)

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof. Selah. There is a river, the streams whereof shall make glad the city of God, the holy place of the tabernacles of the most High. God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved: God shall help her, and that right early." (Psalm 46:1-5)

"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me." (Psalm 23:4)

"I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you." (John 14:18)

WHEN YOU FEEL THREATENED:

"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isaiah 43:2)
"Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity; for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping. The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer. Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly." (Psalm 6:8-10)

"Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." (Matthew 5:10-12)

WHEN YOU ARE ANGRY:

"Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath. For the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God." (James 1:19-20)

"Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath: Neither give place to the devil." (Ephesians 4:26-27)

"A wrathful man stirreth up strife: but he that is slow to anger appeaseth strife." (Proverbs 15:18)

"Be not hasty in thy spirit to be angry: for anger resteth in the bosom of fools." (Ecclesiastes 7:9)

"Good sense makes one slow to anger, and it is his glory to overlook an offense." (Proverbs 19:11 ESV)

WHEN YOU FEEL VENGEFUL:

"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord." (Romans 12:19)

"But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil. Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and ye shall not be judged: condemn not, and ye shall not be condemned: forgive, and ye shall be forgiven: Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again." (Luke 6:35-38)

"Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." (Ephesians 4:31-32)

"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore will not we fear, though the earth be removed, and though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea; Though the waters thereof roar and be troubled, though the mountains shake with the swelling thereof." (Psalm 46:1-3)

WHEN YOU ARE HURT:

"But unto you that fear my name shall the Sun of righteousness arise with healing in his wings; and ye shall go forth, and grow up as calves of the stall." (Malachi 4:2)

"Now I rejoice, not that ye were made sorry, but that ye sorrowed to repentance: for ye were made sorry after a godly manner, that ye might receive damage by us in nothing." (2 Corinthians 7:9)

"See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled." (Hebrews 12:15 NIV)

WHEN YOU ARE FRETFUL:

"Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil." (Psalm 37:7-8)

"The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul. The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore." (Psalm 121:7-8)

"Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved." (Psalm 55:22)

"He only is my rock and my salvation: he is my defence; I shall not be moved." (Psalm 62:6)

WHEN YOU CAN'T SLEEP:

"O LORD, rebuke me not in thine anger, neither chasten me in thy hot displeasure. Have mercy upon me, O LORD; for I am weak: O LORD, heal me; for my bones are vexed. My soul is also sore vexed: but thou, O LORD, how long? Return, O LORD, deliver my soul: oh save me for thy mercies' sake. For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks? I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears. Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies." (Psalm 6:1-7)

"When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee." (Isaiah 43:2)

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Then shall ye call upon me, and ye shall go and pray unto me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart." (Jeremiah 29:11-13)

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THINGS EVERY CHRISTIAN SHOULD KNOW (e-book)
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STAND UP TO THE DEVIL  (e-book)
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