Stress Management!!! !

It's a new week, and I am so glad. Last week was a rough one... things have been a little stressful in the Wright household!  Kip finished his first full week of school. I was working extra hours at the hospital. (Cannot even describe the stressful events that were going on there). We're trying to get last minute things together to close on our house. I tried to start packing our current place up, so we've been stepping over boxes. And the house is a mess for all of the above-said reasons.

I started thinking about the ways that the world tells me to manage stress: Take a nice, long walk. Or a bath. Do something you enjoy. Visit with a friend. Make sure you're eating well, exercising, and getting enough sleep. Um, is it just me or is it true that when you are stressed out and sleep deprived you have less time than ever to do these things?? If I had the time to do all of those things I'm sure I wouldn't be stressed. But the truth is, some days you don't have the time to take a shower.
I think that often what I do during stressful times is endure. Do the best I can with what little sleep I have, and when it finally passes-- I pass out on the couch, watch TV and eat cookies to "rebalance".  I don't want that to be my coping mechanism! Not when I believe that God makes each day and gives us so many things to rejoice in. I know He has better for His children than simply enduring. So.... the Lord has been teaching me about stress management.

I definitely didn't handle this week perfectly. During an especially stressful moment at work when I was super hungry and had to go to the bathroom, someone asked me if I was doing okay. My response was not really stress-free. I said,"Sure, I just hate this day!" Whew, a little extreme. I immediately took it back. Not my best moment!

When I stopped enough to hear from Him, this is what He has said to my heart:
     Give Me each stressful moment. I will give you what you need to handle them. Don't be anxious. Things will slow down again. Don't compromise your time with Me. I want to use these moments to refine you and make you more like Me. And that as a result of these stressful days, I will make You more compassionate, patient, wise, and full of faith than you were before. I will take the load off of your shoulders. Throw Yourself on My grace and have faith that I will help you.

Now that is effective stress management! I hope that this week is a better week, but if not I want to keep on learning the principle of handling stress with grace and dependence. We have such a Good Father! Any other tips that you have, feel free to send them my way! :) Have a great week everyone

Rachel