Business people are often overcome by stress. But they are not the only ones. Many things cause stress and people often feel they cannot go on because of stress.

I still remember how I woke up one morning at 02h00 because of stress. I was feeling so miserable, I sank down on the floor behind the door in my study. I was absolutely down, exhausted by the stress that I had to deal with 24 hours a day. I was at the end of my tether. And I said it straight out to the Lord. I felt as if the baggage I had to carry every day as a child of the Lord had simply become too heavy.

So there I sat in the corner struggling with the Lord for more than an hour.

After some time I got up tiredly and opened my Bible. And there it was before me, verse 23: ²³You stay grounded and steady in that bond of trust, constantly tuned in to the Message, careful not to be distracted or diverted. I read that verse over and over and steadily and surely calm spread over me. I realized that I had to ground myself in the foundation of the Gospel, so that the wild winds and storms around me would not sway me.

It must sound stupid, but in a way I could feel the stress leave my body. Probably also because I once again realized that God is with me and talks to me. Through his Word He said to me that He knows that I’m struggling, that He can see how hard it is for me, that He recognizes that I’m exhausted and needs guidance. And that is why I got this verse, to plant myself in the Gospel, because then no winds of destruction would be able to blow me over.

But I have to do something, too. Yes, verse 22 tells us that Christ had to work hard to bring about peace between God and us. He gave his life! We have to do something – we have to believe! But that is not all:  ²³… There is no other Message—just this one.

We must take this to heart: The Gospel is the only guideline and we have to keep to it! Deep inside we know when we did something wrong. But in a way we succeed in being deaf to that little voice that says: No, don’t do it.

Sometimes we feel bad, but when we get into the same situation, we simply don’t hear that little voice. Why do we so often succeed in doing what we know is wrong? Why is it so easy to go against God’s will?

Maybe we should stop living double lives and make a choice. It seems as if we want our cake and eat it too! I’m a child of the Lord, but when I live my life out in the world, I do what the world does.

Are you sitting in a corner today?

Here is some simple advice with enormous impact: Plant yourself deeply in God’s Gospel; in other words, do what God asks you to do, and do not deviate from this by even one millimeter. God will give you peace! God will show you how to go on! God will show Himself to you! Yes, even to you! Just do it!

Scripture

Colossians 1:21-23

Reflection

How much stress do you have?

Can you give it to God?

What must you do to have less stress?

Prayer

Father, Your Word is always filled with wisdom and helps us to live in such a way that we prosper. Thank you that You want to teach us how to make the right decisions. Help us to be obedient. Amen.