Do you ever find yourself in the presence of someone who seems to stress out about every little thing? Are you a person that tends to stress out about every little thing, or are you pretty easy going? I mean, everyone stresses sometimes and often for good reason. But I am talking about that person that just seems to be on edge for no logical reason, about everything! Or almost everything! Or maybe just a few things! And I’m sure at the time it seems very logical to them.
I seem to be noticing this behavior in people that I am around a lot lately. I’m not sure why as I’m sure I’ve been subject to high anxiety, high stress people several times in my life. I’m sure I’ve probably BEEN that person on several occasions. When I watch people become so overwhelmed and stressed about things my heart aches for them. They do not appear to be stressed because they are going through anything bad, or having a hard time in life, or anything obvious like that, not to say that they aren’t because I really don’t know… they may be… and that is completely understandable. No, I am talking about people who seem to stress about every little thing!
There has been the person who was starting a new job and had so much anxiety about what was expected and how to do things. There was a basic overview of the information and I honestly think that they thought that if they didn’t absorb every little detail right now that they would never hear it again. No one can expect to learn everything the first time around. Sometimes you need to hear it several times, participate, experience, and observe things in order to really “get it”. So try to just relax, it’s ok if you don’t know everything… EVER!
Then there is the person who has made a decision in life that they thought was the right one, only to hear someone else state their opinion! Ouch! And of course there are going to be critics, people that will always do things differently than you, or think you are making a mistake. You cannot allow those people to create doubt in your own mind. Not to say that you can’t listen, and take into account what they have to say (IF you want to), because they may have some insight or information that you haven’t heard or thought of. But ultimately you have to make the right decisions for YOU, not anyone else. We need to have faith in the decisions we make and get out of the habit of allowing other people to determine the strength of that faith.
Although I have had anxiety in MANY other areas of my life and I’m sure (actually I KNOW) there are people who have wanted to shake me because of my way of thinking, I tend to think of myself as a fairly laid back person. Not to say I don’t have my own issues and situations that I needlessly stress about, because I sure do. I just wish there was something I could do help someone to relax without making them feel silly or like their feelings are wrong, but to help them to just take a breath. To remind them that everything will turn out ok.
We all have hard times. We all have things that affect us in ways that other people may not understand. And we all seem to be at ease about somethings that maybe someone else couldn’t handle very well. How do we get to a place where we can be at peace… about all things? Is that even possible?
I know this is something I am trying to learn and become more successful at, being at peace. I want to seek the Lord in this as I know He is where my peace comes from!
In John 16:33, Jesus states – “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV)
Romans 15:13 – May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit (NIV).
Psalm 85:8 – I will listen to what God the Lord says, he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants – but let them not turn to folly (NIV).
Here are a few more verses to check out…
Matthew 6:25-34
Isaiah 26:3-4
Psalm 46:1-2
disastrouslyredeemed 
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