Learning to React to Stress with Trust in God

Few of us can reliably react to stress with trust in God. How do you react when you're well-being is threatened?

When someone gets angry at you are you prone to get angry back (or internalize your anger as depression)?

When you're hit with a big problem in your health or finances do you become scared (or shut down all emotion and get busy)?

When you're anxious, bored, or lonely do you overeat, use alcohol, or engage in another compulsive behavior?

How can you and I learn to become the kind of person who responds to distress by trusting and being secure in God's loving care and offering blessings to other people - even those who have mistreated us?

When a crisis or other problem intrudes whatever is inside us will come out, our inner character will be revealed. (This awareness is a gift because we see what we need to work on with Christ in our spiritual formation.) In the midst of distress is not a good time to learn something new!

Instead we need to be proactive. We need to follow Jesus' often repeated advice and learn to "watch and pray" in anticipation of a coming problem. We should know our biggest vulnerability and liability and go into training with Jesus to learn how to become a different person.

"Training" means studying to learn how to apply Jesus' gospel to our lives. It means doing spiritual exercises/disciplines. It may mean seeking counseling or spiritual mentoring/coaching.