difference between people and the stress                that we will seek after God's

they endure is the way they handle stress.              solutions and take action in the face

                                                                           of discouragement and trouble.

Individuals react to stress in two ways.

A person can allow a burden to motivate                        

them into action to overcome difficulty.                              Matthew 7: 7-8

Conversely, a person can give up on

solving problems in their life and wallow              7  Ask, and it shall be given you;

in defeat.                                                             seek, and ye shall find; knock,  

                                                                          and it shall be opened unto you;

God does not want us to be defeated, he                         

wants us to be uplifted.  We are expected          8. For every one that asketh  

to attack our burdens with God's solutions.           receiveth; and he that seeketh 

There is no problem that we cannot solve              findeth; and to him that

with God and action.                                           knocketh it shall be opened.

 

We all need to have a storehouse of                     God is ready to open doors for us

solutions ready because problems in                    to succeed.  To achieve success  

life are inevitable.  Problems are even                    we have to act and believe.

necessary to test our strength and faith.                Believing that we will receive help

Having solutions ready will always                         from God ensures that giving up

destroy stress.  Stress will constantly                   is not an option.

try to materialize in our lives but we must

stop it before it tries to overtake our minds

and actions.                                                                  Luke 11:5-8

 

Stress almost always comes from having           5. And he said unto them,Which  

When responsibilities without a clear                     of you shall have a friend, and

way or plan to execute actions to meet                  shall go unto him at midnight,

them.  Responsibilities may seem                         and say unto him, Friend, lend 

burdensome and too numerous to deal                   me three loaves;

with, but this is the wrong way to view

this concept.                                                    6. For a friend of mine in his

                                                                           journey is come to me, and I   

Recall that God says he will make our                    have nothing to set before him?

burdens light once we have entered

into his kingdom.                                              7. And he from within shall answer

                                                                           and say, Trouble me not: the

Getting carried away in life's cares is a                   door is now shut, and my 

faulty and more difficult way to live.  It is                 children are with me in bed; I

better to focus on God and to serve him                 cannot rise and give thee.   

rather than serving our cares.  Taking a                           

stance of strength over our lives will ensure         8. I say unto you, Though he will  

that our existence is peaceful and light.                  not rise and give him, because  

                                                                           he is his friend, yet because of

God gives power, love, and a sound mind                his importunity he will rise and

to his people.  He does not desire us to                  give him as many as he

feel stressed or uncomforted.  Relying on                needeth.

our Father and applying action to difficulties

is the only way to live in peace.                              In this parable, Jesus explained

                                                                           the importance of not giving up, but

                                                                           being persistent when you have a

                                                                           need.  Jesus underscored this

                                                                           point by asserting that a person

                                                                           will give to another, even when     

                                                                           it is not convenient, because of  

                                                                           persistence.  Therefore, to receive

                                                                           our needs we have to be motivated

                                                                           and action oriented.  We must

                                                                           never give up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

E-TRACT

 

Never Give Up

 

By Pastor Nikia Smith