Is your soul calm and quiet? During my years of working outside my home, I was always moved into a management position very quickly, eventually hiring in at that level. My dad was a businessman and he taught me well. But, with those positions and life issues came Satan’s weapon of the mind–S-T-R-E-S-S! My husband used to tell me that I thrived on stress and wouldn’t know how to survive without it; when I see the contrast that comes with a calm soul, I know I would have destroyed myself if I hadn’t learned to only carry the load to Jesus. I was never intended to carry the heavy loads but it was a struggle to loosen my grip; the what ifs, hows, whens, etc., just felt like something I was destined to bear.

 With practice, I have become much quicker to send it on to the Lord with peace in my heart because I know if He needs me to do something He’ll let me know, otherwise I need to just get out of His way and let Him work. I’ve learned that I can live in the chaos with a calm soul because of who my Daddy is. 

It’s a continual choice as your world spins–wear the problem or send it on to Jesus. He never has to guess which way to go–the future is clearer than glass to Him. Are you stressed? Psalm 131 says: “O Lord, my heart is not lifted up; my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me.” “No, I keep myself calm and quiet, like a child on its mother’s lap–I keep myself like a little child.” “Put your hope in ADONAI [the Lord] from now on and forever!” 

I used to take antidepressants; they have their usefulness for some. For me, learning to turn my thoughts to the Triune God taught me what it feels like to truly have a calm and quiet soul–most of the time. Do you need stress relief? What is your go-to to relax and regroup? The world will send you to use drugs and alcohol or worse. God gave us free will and also a dumping station–his cross. Go there often if you like to travel lightly.