Give it ALL to God


It is the month of May.  Within these past five months, I began a new job, there have been three proms, several track meets, we experienced our first cruise as a family of eight and are nearly finished with the process of building a home from the ground up.  That list of events alone is enough to place a strain on any person.  Oh...and did I mention we are preparing for a high school graduation, a Pre-K promotion event and celebrating three birthdays solely during the month of May?  Yes, I have "Calgon" on speed dial!  These events are all stressors- certainly happy ones, but stressors nonetheless.  




Dictionary.com defines a stressor as an activity, event, or other stimulus that causes stress.  I was beginning to feel the weight of these stressors when my husband told me to give it to God.  Sounds simple enough, right?

How difficult is it to give everything to God?  Are you able to place whatever may be plaguing you at His feet and just leave it?  I have gotten pretty good at leaving my stuff and junk at the feet of the throne.  It's the picking it back up part that gets me in trouble.

God's word tells us to "not to be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7.

Experiencing stress can make anyone take some unhealthy actions to cope, i.e. binge eating or an exploding temper.  What do you do when you feel stressed?  What can you do?  What you should you do?

The first step to any change is recognizing there is a problem.  Usually, my eye begins to twitch and I say to myself, "Ok...something is going on.  My body is trying to tell me that I am experiencing stress.  What is causing me to stress out?"  I then begin to assess each area in my life to determine the source.  Is it a close relationship?  Is it on my job?  Is it an issue with my health?  Is something awry with my finances?  Where is that stressor?  (Can you picture me searching high and low?)

The second step is to identify ways to alleviate the stress, if possible.  It may not be possible to alleviate the stress and finding ways to manage the stress will be more beneficial.  What can you do to chill out?

Could you relax by listening to music, getting a massage or participating in your favorite hobby?  Perhaps you can exercise by taking a walk or doing some cardio.  Talking to trusted loved ones is an option.  I highly recommend writing it all down to get it out of your head.  Anything you can do to minimize and eventually eradicate what is causing you to be anxious is a step in the right direction.

Ultimately, the most important step, is to give it to God.  I have found that my most earnest prayers occur when I simply lie prostrate on the floor and say, "God...help me."  His presence and peace are far more effective than any brand of bubble bath.  Let go of those stressors and give it ALL to God.

About the Author:

Shatanese Reese is a freelance blogger and author of a future book who resides in Atlanta, GA with her husband and their six children. She enjoys walks on the beach and colorful sunrises. Shatanese’s goal is to find the extraordinary in every day moments. Follow Shatanese on YouTube, FaceBook, Twitter, Instagram, and Periscope.









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