The Real Secret to Crushing Work Stress
Has work stress ever made you feel so rushed all day long that you didn’t even stop to talk to Jesus until bedtime?
Yikes. That’s been me way more times than I feel comfortable admitting.
One week not too long ago, I felt pulled in so many different directions and felt so pressured to get everything done in time that by the end of each day, I was frazzled, drained and completely on edge.
(I don’t do stress well. And yes, I’m a 9 on the Enneagram.)
At the end of the day that week, when I finally finished all the million things on my plate, someone offered several minor critiques on some work I did.
It was just enough to push me over that edge I was on. I felt like crying all the way home.
But the real reason I was on the verge of tears wasn’t because of my colleague’s critiques. And it wasn’t because I didn’t get enough done.
It was because I forgot to invite Jesus into my cubicle. I allowed my schedule and work stress to dictate my inner atmosphere.
What a mistake.
Inside, I was going a billion miles an hour just to get some peace, some escape from my work stress. Another mistake.
Peace Comes Through Prayer, Not Getting Things Done
Yes, there’s a certain sense of relief that comes with ticking off all the items on your list.
But I promise you there will always be another hidden item you forgot. There will always be something you or someone else wants you to do.
Your peace cannot hinge on your to-do list.
Instead, true peace comes by sitting securely in the will of God. That peace is unshakable. It can’t be forced out. And it can’t be rushed or pressured into getting another thing done.
Peace isn’t stressed.
One of my favorite passages of Scripture is Philippians 4:6-7, which says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (NIV).
A great question to ask yourself when you’re feeling frazzled is “So what?”
Observe …
My brain: I need to get this done right away! Ack, and I need to do this and this before I leave! My life is such a mess! Oh-em-goodness, stress, stress, stress!
“So what?”
My brain: If I don’t get this done, then our numbers will go down and I’ll get in trouble for not doing my job well enough!
“So what?”
My brain: Well, that would be … bad.
“So what?”
My brain: Uh… I don’t think you’re understanding me.
Yes, there are things that we need to do or we will face consequences. But ultimately, the things of this life are temporal. If it doesn’t dictate your eternity, it’s really not the end of the world.
What truly matters is that you are abiding in Christ, obeying Him in faith and taking one step at a time.
Abiding in Jesus When the Chaos Starts and Work Stress Sinks In
Inviting Jesus into my chaos means pausing to refocus my mind on Him and consciously ask Him to step in and lead the way.
Sometimes it just means I stop and say: “Jesus, You are in charge here. I can’t do this. I feel so weak and overwhelmed. But You are good. You are strong. And You are enough for me. Step in, Jesus, and lead me right now. Your very presence is enough for me. Give me grace right now to see You and keep in step with You. Help me let go of what doesn’t give You glory and whatever hinders me from experiencing Your peace. … Also, give me patience for [name redacted].”
OK, I’m teasing about that last sentence. Maybe.
Jesus told His disciples that He was the vine and they were the branches (see John 15). That means that they can’t sustain their own vitality. They can’t produce their own fruit. All they can do is cling tightly to the vine.
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing” (John 15:4-5, ESV).
If you continue reading, you see that Jesus goes so far as to say that any branch that doesn’t abide in Him withers (John 15:6).
That branch shrivels up because it fell off of the source of life. A branch that remains shriveled and disconnected ends up in the furnace—and not in the cool “Shadrach-Meshach” kind of way.
Of course, the concept of abiding goes so much deeper than what you do at work. It’s a deep theological concept that impacts your eternity.
But it’s also a truth that is super simple. And it’s super practical.
When you’re in the midst of the chaos, abiding in Jesus is the only way to have peace. Yes, I said the only way.
In John 15 and in several parts of 1 John, it’s clear that abiding in Jesus is abiding in the Truth, because He is the Truth.
Work Stress Can’t Determine Who You Are
Your value as a child of God does not come from how much work you get done. It doesn’t come from how successful you are or how smart you are or how talented you are.
If you want to walk in peace in the midst of chaos, you have to become confident in the Truth.
So practice saying this with me the next time your to-do list tries to sabotage your self-worth: “So what?”
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