I know what you are thinking…”If she tells me to ‘relax and it will happen’, I’m going to scream!” Don’t stop reading, though, just hear me out. When you are working toward something or hoping for something that is really important to you, you put all your focus and all your energy into that one thing. You would think that would be a good thing, because that would mean you are doing your absolute best to make it happen. But the reality is that it is never good to focus on just ONE thing in your life. When you do, you tend to slowly forget about the other things and people in your life. Then when it doesn’t turn out the way you planned or hoped, tension starts to rise. And stress begins to creep in. It starts to have an effect on your relationships with others. You may be more prone to fight, yell, or shut out those important to you. It can also have an effect on your health. Initially, when you feel threatened, your nervous system responds by releasing a flood of stress hormones, including adrenaline and cortisol, which rouse the body for emergency action. Your heart pounds faster, muscles tighten, blood pressure rises, breath quickens, and your senses become sharper. That might seem like a good thing, because your body is ready to take action. But if the stress continues, it could have extreme adverse effects on your body. Here is a list of health problems associated with chronic stress:
- Depression and anxiety
- Pain of any kind
- Sleep problems
- Autoimmune diseases
- Digestive Problems
- Skin conditions, such as eczema
- Heart disease
- Weight problems
- Reproductive issues
- Thinking and memory problems
I don’t submit this list with the intention of stressing you out more! I do it to make you aware of what your body is going through, which you may not even realize. You have choice. You can let the burden of your situation weigh heavily on you, letting it influence your life and health OR you can let in the peace of God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:7
Relax. Rest in the perfect timing of God. Rest knowing that God has your perfect promise for the perfect time.