I'm a stresser; I always have been. When I was little, I got stressed out when my siblings wouldn't obey the rules my parents had laid out for them. As the oldest of four, I felt it my responsibility to make sure that all rules were obeyed and no rule-breaker go unpunished.
As I grew, my stresses moved from family focused to schoolwork focused. My mother and grandfather pushed me to do well in school, which I am thankful for. I truly believe I would be a much different person today if I did not have my mom and grandfather encouraging me to excel academically. However, as I transitioned from homeschool to public school I struggled to resist from letting academic pressures make me worry.
Later an even greater worry emerged. I began to worry about pleasing people. I wanted people to like me. I believed that the best way to get people to like me would be to do whatever they wanted me to do. This concept and way of thinking proved itself to be anything but beneficial. I became consumed with people pleasing until eventually it became too overwhelming. Serving others in moderation is good. However, when you begin serving others with the purpose of making yourself more likeable it becomes people pleasing. Serving others became a selfish idol and took the place over God in my life. Galatians 1:10 says "Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."
Clearly, it is not God's desire for us to become anxious and stressed about pleasing people. He would rather us "with prayer and petition, present our requests to (Him)" (Philippians 4:6). He can handle everything that makes us stressed or worried! It's insulting to him when we doubt his sovereignty and power by not giving him our every worry.
So what are you stressed about? Are you stressed about schoolwork or excelling athletically? Are you worried that you won't get into a certain college or that you won't get the job you are hoping for? Maybe you are stressed about people. Maybe you are striving to impress a certain individual, or maybe you just want all people in general to like you. Whether you are struggling to make ends meat financially or not sure about what occupation you want to pursue in the future, give it to the Lord! He is most certainly capable of providing for us when we serve him. Put him first, and watch him sovereignly work his plan over your life.
