The Bottom Line, Ministries Christian News, Articles, & Poetry 
People often ask others the question, “How are you doing?” Many reply by saying, “I’m fine.” According to a recent poll some aren’t as well as they look. Physically they are okay, but emotionally they are not. After layers and layers of stressful activities and life situations, combined with the hectic pace of everyday living, “1 in 5 Americans now take some type of mood-altering drug or medication…” to feel happy and stable. This was recently revealed in the Annual Gallup-Healthways, Well-Being Index.
Why does life have to be so stressful? Anxiety and worry contribute to the problem. Is there an answer? In the words of Samantha Arroyo, author of a new book, Fragile: 30 Days of Hope for the Anxious Heart, Jesus “has come to deliver you-and us-from the pain, distress, and uncertainty that clouds the everyday” (page 28).
For this to happen, however, it is necessary to do as instructed in Philippians 4:6-7, “Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Jesus set the example. When He went through the most difficult time in His life in the Garden of Gethsemane, he “did not turn to a preferred coping mechanism. Instead, He prayed more earnestly”(page 31-32).
The answer to stress, anxiety, and worry, is to make God and His word the center of one’s life. Take time throughout the day to stop, relax, and reflect upon the goodness and grace of God. The above-mentioned writer goes one step further, however, and says we must “organize our lives in such a way that honors our Savior and makes us more effective for Him”(page 173). Be involved in things that truly make a positive impact, both for yourself and others; don’t just be busy going from one activity to another with no real purpose.
You must “cast your burdens upon the Lord, and He will sustain you…”, it says in Psalm 55:22. According to the poll people desire to feel happy and stable. Isaiah 33:6 reminds us that God is “the stability of your times, a wealth of salvation, wisdom, and knowledge; The fear of the Lord is his treasure.”
For too many people, God has been removed from their lives completely. Life is not meant to be lived with peace, stability, and happiness, without Him. What do you need to do to begin experiencing true happiness and stability God’s way?
