Wana appReset Your Stress Response With ScriptureChikamu
Reset from Exhaustion
“I wish I didn’t have to think about food. I’d get more stuff done. Sometimes the best I can do is eat my toddler’s leftovers while I’m standing up. I constantly crave sugar because it keeps me going.”
My client Tracy, a busy working mom with three young children, battled anxiety and hormonal imbalances that made it difficult for her to keep up with everything on her plate. She frequently skipped breakfast, relying on just coffee to get through her mornings—which only amplified her anxiety. Stopping to eat—or really, stopping to do anything—was an inconvenience for her. She relied on her stressful pace of life to keep her moving.
Do you ever feel stuck in a stress cycle? You’re exhausted, but you have too many responsibilities to take a break. So you do whatever you can to stay afloat, relying on things like caffeine and sugar to get you through the day—which only amplifies your stress and perpetuates the cycle. The more stressed you feel, the more exhausted you become, which can result in brain fog and even mental health struggles like depression or anxiety. In fact, chronic emotional stress depletes us of key nutrients we need to maintain mental clarity.
When I’m stressed, the first thing to suffer is my private time with the Lord. Yet the Bible is filled with reminders that our spiritual nourishment is the primary antidote to stress. No matter the longing of our souls, the Lord satisfies. He fills the hungry soul with good things that sustain. He doesn’t forget his promises to his people—even when we are spiritually famished. By spending time in his Word daily, we can create new neural pathways that bypass our stress default and fill us with reminders of God’s unending refreshment.
He will provide for all your needs. No matter how empty you feel, how deficient in any good thing, his work through you isn’t finished. We can choose to believe in God’s promises, even when we’re depleted, even when we’re swamped with to-do lists and completely stressed out. “He has filled the hungry with good things” (Luke 1:53).
Consider your to-do list this week. It may feel like you’re running on empty. It may feel like you’re overscheduled and undernourished. Bring those concerns to the Lord. Start there. Make primary things primary, and focus on your spiritual nourishment. Find rest in the assurance that he keeps his promises to provide the true nutrients you need.
Zvinechekuita neHurongwa uhu
Your body doesn’t know the difference between a real and a perceived threat. Each day, you likely encounter numerous stressors that activate your innate stress response and throw you off balance. Taking time to be still and set your mind on Scripture can take you from a fight-or-flight state to a rested state. In the next seven days, you’ll spend time reflecting on Scripture to reset from seven common stressors.
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