by Vincent Charles

Created on: August 04, 2009   Last Updated: August 05, 2009

It seems every time you turn on the news, there is a story of a company either shutting their doors permanently or laying off hundreds of people. As of June 2009, the overall unemployment rate in the United States is at an all-time high of 9.7 percent. It is no wonder that there are so many people who are stressed out, worried day by day whether or not they will have a job the next day, concerned if they will be able to make next month's house payment, amd wondering how they will cover the car payment or put food on the table. The worries go on and on.

Throughout the Word of God, there are several scriptures that instruct us how we, as Christians should deal with worries and stress. In Proverbs 3:5-6, King Solomon teaches us that we need to "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths."

Now take a look into the New Testament, turn to Philippians 4:6-7 (NKJV). Paul wrote, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."

When a person is stressed out and worried about what is going on in his life, he has a tendency to make irrational and poor decisions. When this occurs, this person is leaning on their own understanding. What the Word instructs us to do is to trust God, take your problems and present them to the Lord in prayer, ask Him to give you a clear mind and to guide you through the decisions you have to make. Ask Him to give you wisdom concerning your situation. Jesus said in John 14:13-14 (NKJV), "Whatever you ask in My name, that I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything in My name, I will do it". So whatever you are asking, ask for it in the name of Jesus, and believe that it is answered. Thank God for hearing and answering your prayer.

In Matthew 6:25-34 (NKJV), Jesus teaches that as believers, we need not to worry about our lives, but to trust our Father in Heaven. "Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature? So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble."

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