God, you’ve kept track of my every toss and turn through the sleepless nights, each tear entered in your ledger, each ache written in your book.
(Psalm 56:8, The Message)
Introduction
Sweaty palms. Racing heart. Breathlessness. Sleepless nights. How did you get here? When you signed up to urban mission as a carefree Christian, you longed to get to know the wilder side of your community. Now you want to hide behind the sofa every time there’s a knock at the door. The very people you were called to love are now the very people you could write a diss track about! Yes, you’re still called to ‘love your neighbour,’ but somewhere beneath that scripture you’re unravelling. Overwhelmed. On edge. Is stress part of the salvation package?
Obviously not. Stress is the state of tension you experience both physically and mentally when you face too many demands. Sometimes it feels like our communities are piling those demands on our shoulders. God doesn’t want us jumpy and jittery. He wants us whole. In this session Corin helps you wrestle back control.
⏵ Play the video: Stress Part 1
If you arm yourself with the right tools and coping mechanisms, stress need not overpower your outlook and wellbeing. Here are some of the simple, actionable ways Corin suggests using if you’re feeling overwhelmed, overcommitted or overstimulated.
- Exercise. Science proves moving about helps release feel-good endorphins and happy hormones in the brain. Put on your favourite song and throw some shapes in the living room. Get some fresh air with a brisk walk. Flex those muscles. Chase a frisbee. You don’t need to be an Olympic champ or ballon d’or winner, just 15 minutes of activity is guaranteed to lift your spirit.
- Breathwork. Stopping what you’re doing to take a minute to focus on your breathing. Focused breathing can enable more airflow, which in turn will help you feel calmer, less stressed, and less anxious.
🎨 Get creative. Scribble a doodle or paint a portrait. Scribe a poem or journal some thoughts. Bake. Act. Dance. Scrapbook. Being creative is a surefire way of giving your mind a break from overwhelming thoughts.
PART 2 | Reflection Questions
- Which of Corin’s suggestions could you imagine working for you?
- Have you found anything not mentioned in the video which helps you calm the circuits healthily?
- Where in your week could you build in space to rest, reset and recover?
💬 Response activity
Try this simple breathing exercise. Breathe slowly and regulate your breathing. Now, inhale for a steady count of five seconds. Hold your breath for a count of five. Exhale for a steady count of five. Repeat the sequence four times. Be aware of your heart rate lowering as you repeat the exercise.
🤔 Final thought
“…Therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life…” (Luke 12:22 NIV). Jesus is not telling us to pull our socks up and get on with it. No, he’s inviting us into a life lived freely and lightly. Notice, how a kind parent soothes a child. Not through rebuke but with a loving, gentle voice. Read this verse again, in a soothing and comforting tone, ‘therefore, I tell you, do not worry about your life.’
🙏 Prayer
God of love
Whose kindness never fails,
Help me be kind to myself.
I bring my stress and strains.
My worries and workload.
My anxieties.
Everything I’ve found hard to carry,
I ask that you’d shoulder the weight of it all.
Let me learn to live lightly and free,
Help me be at rest,
And know that your perfect love casts out all my fears.
Amen
This devotional was written by Matt Britton, and the accompanying videos were written and presented by Corin Pilling.