Distress Is Bad Stress (Ep #5, part 3 of 3 on managing stress)

This is part 3 of 3 in a series on managing stress. In part 1 we learned that sometimes we need to just take a step back and Breathe In, Breathe Out. In part 2 we discovered that not all stress is bad, in fact Eustress Is Good Stress. Now, for the final part of this series, we have to face the fact that some stress is bad, or negative, stress. This kind of stress keeps us awake at night. This kind of stress takes away our appetite for food, fellowship, fun, and relaxation. It has a tendency to simply dominate our  thoughts, and thus our peace.
Distress is defined as negative, bad, or detrimental stress. It is the kind of stress that does not propel us towards excellence, but rather brings us down and causes us to feel defeated. People have been going through times of distress since the fall of man. In Psalm 22 we read "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help? Every day I call to You, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief."  We can read the same words from the first part of this verse again in Matthew 27:46, as Jesus was hanging on the cross and said "Eli, Eli, lema sabacthani" - which means My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?
We feel distressed when we feel abandoned. Abandoned by God, our family, our friends, our work, our church, or even abandoned by hope itself. When we do not see the light at the end of the tunnel, we can easily lose hope and give in to despair. In times like this we must make the conscious decision to turn our eyes towards God and His Word. 1st Peter 5:6 & 7 reminds us: "So humble yourselves under the mighty power of God, and at the right time He will lift you up in honor. Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you." Today it is my hope and prayer that we all turn our eyes towards Jesus Christ, the hope of the world.

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