Stress – The Will to Wake Up

The End is in Sight

Have you lost your hope for the future?

When you read the title, you might’ve expected this article to be related to the “End Times” or the end of the world. However, I’m no expert on that subject (though who is?) and I’d rather focus on what we don’t have to speculate about.

The truth is, the reason why we long for the end and speculate about Jesus’ second coming is because life on Earth can be really stressful and unnerving. We feel stuck here, unsure where life will take us next.

So the real question is, how can we get unstuck?

Whenever I’m in a tough class, it encourages me to count down the days until the end of the quarter. Why? Because having a specific number of days, no matter how many, reminds me that the end is in sight. I know I won’t be stressed forever.

My answer to how we can get unstuck boils down to one word: Hope.

Hope is laughed at, scorned upon, and belittled in our current society. Yet I believe hope is waiting to be found, a glimmer of light that grows the longer we cling onto it.

Just as classes don’t go past their end date, we won’t suffer through seasons for an unnecessarily long period of time. And ultimately, we won’t be on Earth longer than we have to be either. God knows how many days until we’re with Him, and until then we are meant to make an impact right here, where we are.

When we get burned out, we forget to focus on the present’s generous offerings. Perhaps those offerings are a smile from a stranger or a moment of stillness or laughing with loved ones. Even the small moments of beauty and hope mean something.

If you are feeling stuck, step back and breathe. Remember that you will not be in this situation forever. Trust that no matter what life throws at you, you still have a reason to keep hoping.

Why? Because the God of the universe is in control and He will make all things right in their own time. Most of all, God loves you very much and will use you for great things.

And remember, no matter what, you are loved beyond comprehension ❤

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.
1 Peter 1:13

Unraveling the Cycle of Overthinking

Do you find yourself ruminating on embarrassing or hurtful memories rather than feeling good about yourself?

It’s the end of a long, brutal day. You settle down for a relaxing evening when suddenly–WOAH–something on your phone catches your eye. Maybe it’s a post or a text that reminds you of someone from your past. Or perhaps your phone is put away and an embarrassing memory pops into your brain instead.

Now your evening is essentially ruined because you’ve spent the past hour or so ruminating over a single interaction or response or photo. Maybe they like you, or maybe they never want to see you again. Maybe they think you’re attractive, or maybe they took one look at you and decided you’re not their type. Perhaps they left hidden messages in their text, or perhaps they were on the go and sent whatever Siri suggested for them.

You’ll never really know, and that’s the key issue. You just HAVE to know!!

Or do you really?

Have you ever found yourself stuck in the cycle of overthinking?

I appreciate Merriam Webster’s definition of overthinking, which is classified as, “putting too much time into thinking about or analyzing (something) in a way that is more harmful than helpful”.

The truth is, everything does have meaning, even if the meaning isn’t what we are imagining. However, we can’t let these embarrassing moments or interactions control our lives. Getting stuck down the rabbit hole of overthinking leads to feeling bad about yourself, resentful towards others, and fear for the future.

But how can we stop it? As an overthinker myself, I am also on the journey of reversing this cycle. Here are a few tips, and I’d love to hear any pieces of advice you have on this topic!

Tips to Avoid Overthinking

Figure out what triggers your overthinking. Is it a particular app? If so, limit your time on it or unfollow the person who makes you feel bad about yourself. If a specific person leads you to overthink, reevaluate the relationship to see if your interactions with this person are leading to growth and joy or doubting and stress.
Listen to positive and/or calming music. Sometimes songs, especially about heartbreak or disappointment, can lead to overthinking. Or if a song is tied to a memory that you continue to relive, you may want to avoid listening to it and focus your mind on things that will bring you hope.
Acknowledge that you could be right, but that doesn’t mean the end of the world. See if there are any realistic, practical steps you can take to get out of the situation or change your circumstances. If not, seek help and wise advice rather than trapping yourself in the cycle of overthinking.
Ultimately, remind yourself of what God says about you. God’s thoughts are the only ones that should really matter to us. He’s the only one who knows us fully and has our best in mind. He loves you, cares about you, and plans to use you for amazing things!

Everything does have meaning, but rarely does anything mean enough to take over our lives. Don’t let these intrusive thoughts get the best of you, but don’t beat yourself up when a discouraging thought pops into your head. Instead, take hold of it and release it. You are stronger than you think and more loved than you will ever know ❤

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
    neither are your ways my ways,”
declares the Lord.
“As the heavens are higher than the earth,
    so are my ways higher than your ways
    and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:8-9

More Than You Can Bear

Are you feeling overwhelmed, wondering where Jesus is in the midst of all you’re going through?

Sometimes, life just feels like too much. One thing after another, spiraling into a season of chaos. And when one stressful season ends, it feels as though another is just around the corner. During these times of uncertainty, you may only have the energy to ask God one simple thing: “Why?”.

To be honest, I’ve been asking God “why” a lot recently. Why this school, why these feelings, why don’t I understand?

What are some questions you have for God? Maybe they are related to your mental or physical health, or perhaps an important relationship in your life. There are countless things to question God about; the tough thing is waiting for an answer.

Yesterday, I was feeling overwhelmed by the burden of wanting to do whatever I can to help others, yet not knowing where to start. I was reading about how my generation, Gen Z, is considered a “lost generation” due to the high levels of anxiety, depression, and overall despair. Everyone feels…alone. All they want is to feel something, which leads to an assortment of harmful behaviors that take the place of being fully cared for and embraced.

Do you ever read Bible verses that make you frustrated? Often these are verses that are designed to make us feel better, yet when they don’t, they almost feel like a mockery of our pain. We read verses about Jesus carrying our burdens and our joy being complete through Him, but when we feel hopeless, heavy, and tired, these promises become empty words.

So often, we expect Jesus to be like another person: fallible. We avoid calling out to Him because we assume our emotions are too much for Him or that He won’t follow through in time, if ever. And when we do call out, sometimes nothing changes for a while.

All we have left is our weak, exhausted soul calling out for help and clarity.

When I hear about all the things people are struggling with, I want to scream at the top of my lungs, “Where are you, Jesus?”. But for some reason, that feels wrong. How can I scream at the One who is the source of my joy and peace? He literally saved me. Shouldn’t that be enough?

But here’s the thing: Jesus doesn’t expect us to be satisfied just with His earthly appearance and sacrifice thousands of years ago. That’s why He’s given us the Holy Spirit, called our Advocate, to speak on behalf of us.

Jesus, God, the Holy Spirit…they are all-powerful, incomparable, divine beings who want to be in relationship with you.

The Holy Spirit is inside you, feeling everything you’re feeling, enraged about everything that bothers you, and desperately fighting for you. And when you take the time to listen, really listen, and look for the ways Jesus is showing you He’s there, maybe this burden won’t feel so lonely.

Last night, I wrote in my prayer journal, as I always do, yet I couldn’t feel Jesus. I couldn’t really feel anything except frustration and fear. I asked Jesus what I should do, but I didn’t hear anything. A little while later, I opened up my Bible to continue reading Nehemiah.

In that chapter, Nehemiah was assigning tasks to those helping him do God’s work of restoring a city that had previously been oppressed. One particular character caught my eye, a “faithful person who feared God more than most”. This man was given an important task, a task that was clearly not for the faint of heart. However, Nehemiah, through the guidance of God, knew he could handle it because of his obedience and dedication to God.

Right in that moment, I felt Jesus speaking to me, reminding me that He has given me this life because He knows that I can make good use of it. He knows that it’s hard, but He has equipped me with everything I need to carry on.

I believe that Jesus is telling you the same thing. No matter what you are going through, Jesus is right beside you. He is waiting for you to call out to Him. He wants everything, even your toughest questions. He’s making a way for you, even if you can’t see it yet.

I encourage you to make the time to simply rest with Jesus. Allow yourself to step away from the world and let His Spirit of peace fill your mind and heart. You never know what may come out of it, perhaps even a change in perspective and a renewal of hope.

Jesus promises to never give us more than we can bear. He knows you, He loves you, and He is ready to transform you into the person you are meant to be.

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4

God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.
1 Corinthians 10:13

A song recommendation if you need encouragement: It’s Gonna Get Better, by The Young Escape: https://youtu.be/DDSNoibW41M

What if I Ruined God’s Plan?

Do you ever struggle with fearing that you’re going to mess up God’s plan for you?

If you’ve ever struggled with the fear of missing out, the fear of messing up God’s plans for you, or you’re bogged down by regrets, I’m going to say something that will lift your burdens.

You do not have the power to mess up or change God’s plans for you.

I’m the sort of person who always needs to know where I’m headed. I want things planned out, and more importantly, for things to go according to that plan. As I’ve debated what to study in college, I’ve been trying to listen to God’s voice. I have worried about picking the wrong career that doesn’t go along with what God wants for me.

But then I heard that quote on a podcast last night, and suddenly a burden lifted. We give ourselves too much credit sometimes. We think we know what’s best for us and that one mistake can mess up everything.

But the truth is, what if the things we consider mistakes are actually a part of God’s plan for us?

I’m not saying you should go out and try to do things that will harm you or others. But instead of looking back on the past with regret or fearing making more mistakes in the future, realize that everything that happens is in accordance to God’s plan. He would never let something happen without a reason.

That can be hard to grasp, especially if something painful has happened to you recently. When the pastor at my church passed away, I struggled to figure out how that was a part of God’s plan. I couldn’t comprehend why God would allow his family to go through so much. To be honest, we may never know the reasons behind painful situations until we get to Heaven. But until we set our minds on things above rather than on just what we know right now, our minds won’t be open to the possibility that God is doing things greater than what we can imagine.

What about you? What’s something from the past that you can’t let go of? Are you angry at God for taking someone away or for not giving you an opportunity you believe you deserve?

It’s okay to be upset. It’s okay to need time and space. But we shouldn’t blame God for our pain. Jesus is the one who came down to take away our pain. He absorbed every single person’s pain, the result of our sin-filled world, so that we won’t be separated from God.

Don’t ignore that gift. Don’t take that gift for granted. God is here with you now and He wants to hear from you. He wants to guide you and show you His plan. But until you remove the barriers between you and God, you won’t be able to fully embrace God’s plan for your life.

So today, if you’re struggling to make a decision, listen to wise counsel and ask God what He wants you to do. Then, instead of waiting around, just go for it. Don’t look back, just keep moving forward. You are living out God’s plan right now, at this very moment. Isn’t that amazing? And nothing you can ever do will change that because God’s love never changes.

I know that You can do all things,
And that no purpose of Yours can be thwarted.
Job 42:2

The mind of a man plans his way,
But the Lord directs his steps.
Proverbs 16:9

For my thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.
Isaiah 55:8

But we speak God’s wisdom in a mystery, the hidden wisdom which God predestined before the ages to our glory.
1 Corinthians 2:7