21 Days to Overcome StressNäide

Just Say No!

Does the mere thought of saying “no” elicit feelings of anxiety? Perhaps one culprit is your overloaded schedule of unbridled “yes”es.

When people ask me to take on another responsibility, write another article, participate in another event, or counsel another woman, I say yes simply because I am honored by the request. I am flattered by their interest in my gifts or abilities.

At times, I have made decisions and commitments based on my people-pleasing bent. I long to be known as a “good girl,” and therefore, I agree to do something that is simply not God’s plan for my life. I have been known to say, “Sure, I’ll do that!” even when it creates unnecessary anxiety and stress…for me! I actually should have said, “Thanks for asking, but it is just not possible for me at this time.”

Stress is a warning signal that something in our life needs to change. Stress can also be the result of committing to the wrong things rather than the right things. For instance, if I agree to a joint vacation with relatives, when God has called my family to forego a vacation this year to save money, I will experience stress and most assuredly anxiety.

It’s a wonderful idea to take a family vacation, but not if you go into debt over it! Or, if I commit to volunteer for a civic organization, when God has called me to prepare for a missions trip, I will experience stress.

There is nothing wrong with volunteering for an organization - unless God has said, “Not right now.” As I have matured in who I am as a woman, I have realized that I will never please the world - and what a ridiculous goal that would be if it were even possible!

"If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to Him and ask Him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy.” — Elisabeth Elliot

DAILY DEPOSIT:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. – Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV