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Monday, December 14, 2009

Stress or Distress?


"Although man has made the world very complex,
John the Apostle breaks down the entire universe
into two things: God and not God."
AW Tozer


Stress or Distress?

Out of my distress, I called on YAH.
YAH answered me with freedom...
YAH is my strength and song.
He has become my salvation.
~ Psalms 118:5,14 (WEB)

"You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free... Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed."
~ John 8:32,36 (NKJV)


For as long as we have distress, we are its captive.

Freedom may come by working through a problem, or in the problem's disappearance. It's also possible that we simply obtain peace about a distressful situation and are thereby set free.

The Lord's peace comes by seeing the situation from His perspective, and therefore seeing it in truth. I testify that this is how the Lord says He works, and how I've seen Him work.

As I write these words, a little voice says, "Not always—what about this? What about that? What if the Lord is using distress for good?"

Whether that little voice comes from me, from my enemy the devil, or from the world, I don't have to listen to it, and neither do you. The Lord allows the stress of testing and trial, but I believe stress need not become distress and take us captive. The Lord reminds me:

You will keep in perfect peace
The one stayed upon You,
Because he trusts in You.
Trust in the LORD forever,
For YAH, the LORD,
is the Rock of Ages.
Isaiah 26:3-4 (author)


I confess that I can allow stress to become distress. The failure is not the Lord's but mine, if I fail to keep myself adequately stayed (focused) upon Him. I cannot think of a time when distress came knocking, when I got my heart and mind stayed upon the Lord and His trustworthiness, that He did not set me free.

What are your thoughts? Where does stress become distress? Are truth and trust in the Lord enough to set us free?

Lord, our Savior and Deliverer, please lead our hearts to seek and find Your truth and freedom at all times.

Contrasting points-of-view, questions and feedback are invited. Post to
BuildingHisBody.com "Comments" or e-mail to BuildingHisBody@gmail.com. Copyright 2009, Anne Lang Bundy, all rights reserved. #perspective

8 comments:

  1. This speaks to me so. I love how you do that Anne ;) I'm writing down Isaiah 26:3-4 . Thank you!

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  2. Thanks for being a blessing to so many, love you.

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  3. I like how you delineate the two, stress from distress. I recently went through something stressful with a loved one and experienced the freeing you mentioned b/c God walked me through it from His perspective. It kept it from turning distressful and holding me captive.

    I called you a dancing lady on my blog today. Hope that's okay.
    ~ Wendy

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  4. T. Anne, I still remember May. I rejoice with where you are. And it's the Holy Spirit Who does that.

    Denise, I love you, too. I pray that I AM the Lord's blessing, every day.

    Wendy, you'd be amazed how many posts come out differently than I expect. I have one thing in mind, and in the writing of it and praying over it, it becomes something else.

    Bud, I'm heading back to "Forgiven" to leave you a reply there.

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  5. As you said, stress becomes distress when we lose site of the solution, Jesus.

    Still it is important to remember that God has given us each other. We understand the concept of helping others when they are in need. It is equally important to reach out to others when we are in need. People are often the agents of God's love in our lives

    Thanks Anne -

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  6. I think when you focus on your stress, it becomes distressful. Keeping my trust on God and acknowledging his truth as freedom. Encouraging post Anne!

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  7. Anne, you know I love visiting your blog daily. You are such an inspiration. *big hugs*

    You have an award waiting for you at my blog. Check it out:

    http://faithhopeandsuspense.blogspot.com

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  8. Oops! Missed replying to these comments. Sorry to be so tardy!

    Russell, Christ's people are indeed His hands and arms, mouth and ears on Earth. Thanks for His touch on my life through you.

    Ellie, I'm certain you're right about looking at the stress making it distress. Must. Keep. Eyes. On Jesus! :D

    Ralene, thank you kindly for the award. It'll be nice to have that here a while. I confess that "award" is a word I get embarrassed to have around too long, tho ... :D

    ReplyDelete

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