Stress Management - a Biblical Guide

In one of this "makes-you-wanna-think-about-it" squibs, the poet Robert Frost wrote, "The reason why worry kills more people than work is because more people worry than work." 

Whether you work or not, if you worry, you're under stress. Enough books about worry and about stress have been written to fill a library. But the "Good Book" also has something to say about both of these topics, which, of course, are interrelated. Worry - not to be confused with calm concern - is stressful and is condemned by Jesus as a form of lack of trust in God. Everyone, especially worriers, should meditate frequently on his treatise in Matthew 6:25-34. Even reading it prayerfully anesthetizes worry.

A premiere method of relieving stress is prayer. Even agnostic psychiatrists are coming to recognize that fact, and prescribe it for their patients (Unfortunately they also prescribe counterreit forms of prayer, such as New Age forms of "meditation" that carry with them untoward spiritual side effects). True prayer is not self-focused but God-focused: "When you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father" (Mt 6:6). 

 A second biblical stress-reducer is surrender or commitment of oneself to God, which teaches the art of "letting go." Worriers would do well to live (not just read)l the words of Proverbs 16:3L "Commit to the Lord whatever you dom and our plans will succeed." 

This excerpt is from the book One-Minute Meditations for Busy People, by John H. Hampsch, C.M.F., originally published by Servant Publications. It and other of Fr. Hampsch's books and audio/video recordings can be purchased from Claretian Teaching Ministry, 20610 Manhattan Pl, #120, Torrance, CA 90501-1863. Phone 1-310-782-6408 or www.Catholicbooks.net