Stressors sure come. They can show up daily, taking many forms :

• Unexpected change
• Undue delay
• Clear uncertainty
• Bad news
• True disappointment
• Extended sickness
• (Fear of) Failure or rejection
• Added responsibilities
• New challenges
• Obvious misunderstanding
• Cares turned to worry
• Performance pressure

Are any of these hitting you lately? Feeling choked, paralyzed, shut down? How do you respond?

Psalm 120 shows us a great stress response: simply call on the LORD. Identify the throttling stress and invite Him into the mix. Don’t go it alone. Ask for rescue, relief, lift. Let Him battle with you, for you. And expect His calming presence, strong support, wise words and real answers. 

To be specific, the psalmist David expressed two concerns in the text that were stressing him. First, others were dishonest and deceitful with him, so he felt victimized. Second, David got worn down by prolonged living in a negative culture. All the scorn and cynicism was getting to him.

David wanted OUT. So the first move he made was UP. He called on God in his distress.

Let’s excel at making this great stress response too!

Reflect: What’s stressing you at this moment? What’s your first move when stress mounts? Are you committed to, comfortable and confident in calling on the LORD?

A prayer to consider: LORD, I call on You for help here for  ____________. Relieve this stress. Don’t let my stress relief efforts take ungodly, unhealthy forms. Whenever I want out, keep me pushing up. Thank You for caring to step in. Your real listening, Your inevitable answers mean much to me. Amen.

P.S. Here’s a good one to memorize and make your regular self talk: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7).