1 00:00:37,970 --> 00:00:41,531 Speaker 1: Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched 2 00:00:41,531 --> 00:00:45,171 Speaker 1: something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly 3 00:00:45,251 --> 00:00:48,131 Speaker 1: newsletter built for people who want to go a little 4 00:00:48,171 --> 00:00:54,091 Speaker 1: deeper in their faith. Thank devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations, 5 00:00:54,131 --> 00:00:57,331 Speaker 1: and a little community all in one place. No ads, 6 00:00:57,731 --> 00:01:00,170 Speaker 1: just good content. This one means a lot to us. 7 00:01:00,451 --> 00:01:03,211 Speaker 1: We built The Good Word based on the audience survey 8 00:01:03,491 --> 00:01:05,811 Speaker 1: so many of you filled out a few months back. 9 00:01:05,971 --> 00:01:08,450 Speaker 1: You told us what you wanted and we listened. So 10 00:01:08,611 --> 00:01:11,530 Speaker 1: thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to 11 00:01:11,571 --> 00:01:14,211 Speaker 1: the link in the show notes and join our community today. 12 00:01:14,411 --> 00:01:15,331 Speaker 1: We'd love to have. 13 00:01:15,291 --> 00:01:25,051 Speaker 2: You Life Audio. 14 00:01:26,531 --> 00:01:29,491 Speaker 3: Welcome to the Crosswalk Devotional. We're glad to have you 15 00:01:29,571 --> 00:01:33,731 Speaker 3: listening with us. Today's topic is about staying strong when 16 00:01:33,811 --> 00:01:37,931 Speaker 3: you're feeling stressed. Well return with the devotional after a 17 00:01:37,931 --> 00:01:39,250 Speaker 3: brief message. 18 00:01:38,851 --> 00:01:56,091 Speaker 4: From our sponsors, Staying Strong not Stressed, written and read 19 00:01:56,171 --> 00:01:57,371 Speaker 4: by Cindy McManamon. 20 00:01:58,691 --> 00:02:01,731 Speaker 2: Even before there is a word on my tongue. Behold, Lord, 21 00:02:01,811 --> 00:02:04,371 Speaker 2: you know it all saw one thirty nine to four 22 00:02:04,811 --> 00:02:11,251 Speaker 2: New American Standard Bible. Stress, whether it's physical, emotional, relational, 23 00:02:11,411 --> 00:02:14,571 Speaker 2: or financial, can take its toll on any of us, 24 00:02:15,291 --> 00:02:17,491 Speaker 2: But how do we handle stress so we don't push 25 00:02:17,571 --> 00:02:21,491 Speaker 2: others away from us? I used to find myself. 26 00:02:21,131 --> 00:02:23,891 Speaker 3: Reaching out to my husband or my young adult daughter 27 00:02:24,011 --> 00:02:27,611 Speaker 3: to get the relief, encouragement, or support I needed to 28 00:02:27,611 --> 00:02:32,051 Speaker 3: get through stressful times. I would provide explanations for my 29 00:02:32,211 --> 00:02:36,691 Speaker 3: stressed out behavior and seek their understanding. But I've learned 30 00:02:36,691 --> 00:02:41,291 Speaker 3: through the years that having such expectations on others can backfire. 31 00:02:42,291 --> 00:02:44,851 Speaker 3: You and I can push our marriages over the edge 32 00:02:44,891 --> 00:02:47,851 Speaker 3: if we let our spouses know they are not meeting 33 00:02:47,891 --> 00:02:51,691 Speaker 3: our emotional needs or expectations at a time when they 34 00:02:51,770 --> 00:02:55,891 Speaker 3: might be dealing with multiple frustrations as well. We can 35 00:02:55,931 --> 00:03:00,251 Speaker 3: also damage our relationships with our children, regardless of their ages, 36 00:03:00,651 --> 00:03:03,411 Speaker 3: when we expect them to be there for us emotionally, 37 00:03:03,851 --> 00:03:05,971 Speaker 3: when they might not feel equipped to do what it 38 00:03:06,050 --> 00:03:09,090 Speaker 3: is we're expecting of them or respond in a way 39 00:03:09,091 --> 00:03:12,691 Speaker 3: that will meet our emotional needs. There have been many 40 00:03:12,731 --> 00:03:15,531 Speaker 3: times in the past several years that I'd had to 41 00:03:15,531 --> 00:03:19,531 Speaker 3: make a conscious decision to not lay my expectations on 42 00:03:19,651 --> 00:03:23,171 Speaker 3: my husband or daughter, or even my friends when I 43 00:03:23,251 --> 00:03:28,131 Speaker 3: felt particularly stressed, regardless of the source, and as I 44 00:03:28,211 --> 00:03:32,171 Speaker 3: began to take my troubles and stressful times. To God first, 45 00:03:32,891 --> 00:03:35,251 Speaker 3: I found that I was not only more able and 46 00:03:35,331 --> 00:03:38,531 Speaker 3: stable to deal with whatever came my way, but I 47 00:03:38,571 --> 00:03:41,171 Speaker 3: could help others in my family through whatever they were 48 00:03:41,211 --> 00:03:46,731 Speaker 3: going through as well. David saying in Psalm one thirty 49 00:03:46,811 --> 00:03:50,611 Speaker 3: ninety four that God knows everything we are going to say, 50 00:03:51,051 --> 00:03:54,091 Speaker 3: even before there is a word on our tongues. He 51 00:03:54,291 --> 00:03:58,091 Speaker 3: knows our thoughts before we think them, our words before 52 00:03:58,131 --> 00:04:02,811 Speaker 3: we say them, and our actions before we carry them out. Certainly, 53 00:04:02,851 --> 00:04:04,851 Speaker 3: a God like that is the one we should be 54 00:04:04,931 --> 00:04:09,931 Speaker 3: going to first when we begin to feel stressed. Intersecting 55 00:04:09,971 --> 00:04:14,451 Speaker 3: Faith in life today, when stress starts rearing its ugly 56 00:04:14,491 --> 00:04:17,651 Speaker 3: head in my life, I practice these three teas on 57 00:04:17,731 --> 00:04:23,531 Speaker 3: a daily basis to stay strong during difficult times. Number one, 58 00:04:23,691 --> 00:04:26,811 Speaker 3: Tell God first. Sometimes you and I need to vent 59 00:04:26,971 --> 00:04:31,051 Speaker 3: or just talk aloud about what we're feeling. But our 60 00:04:31,091 --> 00:04:35,571 Speaker 3: frustrations can come across as accusations or complaints if we're 61 00:04:35,611 --> 00:04:38,931 Speaker 3: not careful. And since it is now for others who 62 00:04:39,010 --> 00:04:40,850 Speaker 3: love and care about us to try to find a 63 00:04:40,931 --> 00:04:45,131 Speaker 3: solution to fix our stressful situation when we just wanted 64 00:04:45,130 --> 00:04:47,891 Speaker 3: someone to listen, it's better to go to God with 65 00:04:47,971 --> 00:04:51,891 Speaker 3: the venting first. Sure, God already knows what we're going 66 00:04:51,931 --> 00:04:55,450 Speaker 3: to say, according to psalmone thirty ninety four, but by 67 00:04:55,491 --> 00:04:58,451 Speaker 3: telling God first all that is on our hearts and minds, 68 00:04:58,811 --> 00:05:02,971 Speaker 3: he can be the buffer. Number Two, trust God's promises. 69 00:05:03,491 --> 00:05:06,491 Speaker 3: The Bible is full of God's promises about his provision 70 00:05:06,571 --> 00:05:11,051 Speaker 3: and protection. So when we become troubled about finances or 71 00:05:11,051 --> 00:05:14,811 Speaker 3: a work deadline, or health issues, we can find comfort 72 00:05:14,971 --> 00:05:18,411 Speaker 3: just by remembering some of God's encouraging words to his people. 73 00:05:19,291 --> 00:05:23,010 Speaker 3: In Philippians four nineteen, Paul says, my God will supply 74 00:05:23,171 --> 00:05:26,570 Speaker 3: all your needs according to his riches in glory in 75 00:05:26,651 --> 00:05:30,010 Speaker 3: Christ Jesus and Romans eight twenty eight tells us we 76 00:05:30,091 --> 00:05:32,651 Speaker 3: know that God causes all things to work together for 77 00:05:32,771 --> 00:05:35,771 Speaker 3: good to those who love God, to those who are 78 00:05:35,811 --> 00:05:41,570 Speaker 3: called according to His purpose. Keep stressed sidelined by banking 79 00:05:41,571 --> 00:05:44,451 Speaker 3: on the promises in the Bible and taking God at 80 00:05:44,451 --> 00:05:49,210 Speaker 3: his word. Number Three, Thank God constantly, no matter what 81 00:05:49,331 --> 00:05:52,851 Speaker 3: the situation. There's always something to be thankful for. One 82 00:05:52,891 --> 00:05:55,411 Speaker 3: of my friends was discouraged that her husband's new job 83 00:05:55,491 --> 00:05:58,570 Speaker 3: didn't pay as well as his previous one, but some 84 00:05:58,851 --> 00:06:02,451 Speaker 3: income was better than none. Another friend complained about our 85 00:06:02,491 --> 00:06:07,131 Speaker 3: teenager's disinterest in school and his unwillingness to apply himself, 86 00:06:07,491 --> 00:06:10,531 Speaker 3: yet he was still very interested in his church's youth group. 87 00:06:11,171 --> 00:06:14,611 Speaker 3: We can become people of praise with a contagious positive 88 00:06:14,651 --> 00:06:18,851 Speaker 3: attitude when we obey God's command h for Thessalonians five 89 00:06:18,931 --> 00:06:23,971 Speaker 3: eighteen to give thanks in all circumstances. A thankful spouse, parent, 90 00:06:24,091 --> 00:06:27,851 Speaker 3: or friend is pleasant to be around. When you and 91 00:06:27,931 --> 00:06:32,451 Speaker 3: I practice these three teas, telling God first, trusting his promises, 92 00:06:32,690 --> 00:06:37,131 Speaker 3: and thanking Him constantly, our circumstances might not change immediately, 93 00:06:37,851 --> 00:06:40,931 Speaker 3: but by depending on God and not solely on others, 94 00:06:41,251 --> 00:06:44,451 Speaker 3: we cannot only alleviate the stress in our lives, but 95 00:06:44,491 --> 00:06:47,611 Speaker 3: we can become encouragers who model to others how to 96 00:06:47,651 --> 00:06:52,010 Speaker 3: handle stress in their lives as well. For further study, 97 00:06:52,291 --> 00:06:55,971 Speaker 3: see Psalms sixty two, verses five through eight. To grow 98 00:06:56,091 --> 00:07:00,330 Speaker 3: more dependent on God and improve your relationships, see my 99 00:07:00,451 --> 00:07:04,411 Speaker 3: book The New Loneliness Devotional, Fifty Days to a Closer 100 00:07:04,651 --> 00:07:06,131 Speaker 3: Connection with God. 101 00:07:09,971 --> 00:07:12,131 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to today's devotional. 102 00:07:12,331 --> 00:07:14,371 Speaker 3: If you liked what you heard today, we want to 103 00:07:14,371 --> 00:07:17,531 Speaker 3: make sure you know about our sister podcast your Daily 104 00:07:17,571 --> 00:07:20,971 Speaker 3: Prayer when you follow your daily prayer in your favorite 105 00:07:21,011 --> 00:07:24,291 Speaker 3: podcast app. You'll get a brand new prayer and devotional 106 00:07:24,371 --> 00:07:28,211 Speaker 3: each day, so your days begin in conversation with God. 107 00:07:28,491 --> 00:07:31,251 Speaker 2: If you're looking to grow in prayer or start your 108 00:07:31,331 --> 00:07:34,491 Speaker 2: day with your heart focused on the right things, search 109 00:07:34,811 --> 00:07:38,691 Speaker 2: for your daily prayer in your favorite podcast and be 110 00:07:38,771 --> 00:07:41,051 Speaker 2: sure to follow the show so you get a new 111 00:07:41,091 --> 00:07:43,891 Speaker 2: prayer delivered straight to you each morning.