Anxiety in Evidence: Stress

Sometimes I wonder if stress is a synonym of anxiety. I suppose that is because one invariably leads to the other. We are pulled in so many directions and have so many things that share top priority that stress is almost a curse word. And yet ‘no’ doesn’t seem to be acceptable either anymore.

Little to do with Time

I read something not long ago about stress and hurry in light of Jesus’s life, something like this: Jesus lived 33 years and only 3 of them were in ministry. He must have had immense pressure put upon him to do and go and heal and pray and teach all the time in all the known world. Yet, his focus was always on the current moment. He waited two more days before going to see a sick Lazarus, who had been dead four days by the time he arrived (John 11:6). The disciples thought Jesus had better things to do than to spend time with children, but he instead blessed everyone before going on from there (Matt 19:13-15).

Consider all that Jesus achieved in the three years of his ministry. I can’t begin to count how many people were healed. Over 5,000 men plus women and children were all present for the miracle feeding with five loaves of bread and two fish. His impact was enormous. In just three years. Time has nothing to do with kingdom success. There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens (Ecc 3:1) and God has set it, not our schedule or our hurry or our stress.

In the Moment

Jesus was approached on the road many times. Others even interrupted his reclining at table. The interruptions never seem to get his goat. Jesus focused on what he was doing and the people he was with. Every time. Jesus asks others to go ahead and prepare things for him only when his time was coming to an end. He didn’t seem to dwell on the next thing, the next place, the next teaching or healing. He walked with and was present with those who sought him out and his disciples. He understood the number of his days and had a heart of wisdom (Psalm 90:12).

Stress has us thinking about many things seemingly all at once. But most of that thought and energy is focused on things that are not of the present. It overwhelms us, all that we need to achieve in such a little span of time. The people, the details, the work, the house, the kids, the parents, the church, the spouse. All need something. This is the stress that our heads create. Yet, Jesus chose to be present among the people. He wasn’t rushing off to the next town or event, he stopped and ate and listened to others. Jesus deliberately lived the moment, without the distraction of the next.

Backlash or Acknowledgement

Maybe it is easy to think that Jesus had a special connection to God and so had access to understanding what he needed to be doing and it must have been easy. He had the same temptations we did, people telling him what to do and who to spend time with. But he knew and chose the priority instead. He boldly told children to come and disciples to step aside. He stopped in the middle of the road when a sick outcast touched his garment. He called to a tax collector in the tree to make dinner for him. He was interrupted all the time.

Jesus knew the pressure we feel and the stress of being pulled in a hundred directions; the interruptions that make us lose our focus. He knows them all. He acknowledged the pressures and the interruptions. He gave them attention and then returned to his activities. He was ‘full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you [he] may know how to answer everyone’ (Col: 4:6) [parenthesis mine]

I admit that I am more prone to backlash – on myself or others – when interrupted or pressured. So, I have learned in this observance of Jesus that the interruption is here, and I can do little with a backlashing or backhanded attitude to make it go away. My concentration is gone. But Jesus always remained calm and addressed the interruptions with care. I too can do this. A deep breath and a little shake of the head. Sometimes I need to ask for a moment or take a sip of water, then address the interruption. What about interruptions in the mind? I think they are the same; acknowledge them, mark them on the ‘to do’ list or calendar and then go back to the task at hand.

Acknowledge with Care and Set Timing

Jesus addressed other’s priorities and issues with care and in due time. He did not permit them to make him into a stress ball; he didn’t snap at others or snare in disdain. I’m guilty of having done all of these things. But for some time now, I am responding as Jesus would. Not everything went the way Jesus planned, but he handled that with grace, not stress. He was in the moment and determined the timing, not others. He made choices for his own well-being and achieved everything without hurry, but rather with attention and care of the moment. Do not be anxious about tomorrow (Matt 6:34), says to me ‘pay attention today.’