Personal Development

While it’s true that our modern lives have become increasingly stressful, we see examples of stressed-out people throughout Scripture. Jesus Himself was stressed to the point of sweating blood in the Garden of Gethsemane. When it feels like an inverted pyramid of pressure is bearing down on your shoulders, you can find solace, hope, wisdom, and help in handling stress in the Bible. Scriptures about stress and peace to guide you Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans. – Proverbs 16:3, NIV It’s easy to lose sight of the most important things in life when we become stressed. A helpful habit to form is to have a few moments in simple prayer at the start or end of each day to quietly connect with the Lord. Tell Him about your plans, failures, hopes, and anxieties. Doing this daily will help you reorient your focus on the One who helps your plans succeed. Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. – Matthew 11:28, NIV Jesus knew that His followers would experience stressful trials in the world. He made this offer to all while He was still on earth. He promised to bring our struggles to God and in return, we receive His rest. Elsewhere He reminds us that He gives us peace and does not take it back from us (John 14:27). But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed, and its destruction was complete. – Luke 6:49, NIV This is both a warning and a reminder to keep God central as we navigate our stressful [...]

The people that we most often look up to are those that show extraordinary resilience, and who have weathered storms well. They can be moms, businesspeople, members of the armed forces, missionaries, artists, athletes, or just your average Joe trying to do life well. The characteristic these individuals evince is strength, and it is a great quality to possess in everyday life. What do you do, though, if you don’t have enough strength to face a challenge? Sickness, abandonment by friends, financial problems, messy and complicated relationships – all of these are examples of things that can tax your strength and push you beyond your mental, physical, and emotional limits. Admitting that you lack strength is hard for many people; after all, who wants to be considered weak? However, it can be a show of great strength and character to acknowledge your weakness and your need for help. On the night that He was betrayed, Jesus needed His friends there to watch and pray with Him. He felt overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death, and He needed His friends with Him at that moment (Matthew 26: 36-46). Jesus’ example should embolden us to recognize when we are weak and to seek help from others when we need it. Bible verses about strength Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow [...]

There are so many conversations revolving around mental wellness. It seems like there is a rise in the diagnosis of various mental health disorders. This makes it important to understand what mental wellness means. A variety of areas can be included in mental wellness. Mental wellness is not about being happy all the time. It is a balance of mind, body, emotions, and lifestyle. Keeping these four areas of ourselves in harmony in such a way that we can navigate the situations in life is how we experience it. It is being able to understand and accept our abilities to endure stress and attain personal peace. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. – John 14:27, NIV Those diagnosed with a mental health disorder can maintain healthy mental wellness. Being able to maintain a positive mental outlook doesn’t depend on the illness. It is a result of understanding how well the person can handle life events. What are the four key areas of mental wellness? Because it is not simply based on the diagnosis of a mental illness, it is important to understand how the mind, body, emotions, and lifestyle play a part in the wellness of a person. Area of the mind. Our mind is a big part of mental health. It is where we learn and understand how we interact with the world around us. A healthy mind is dealing with stressors and understanding how our reaction to them can affect other areas of our well-being. A mental illness doesn’t always prohibit this ability. Proper treatment of mental illness can increase the ability to cope with stress and develop skills to react [...]