I know when I am stressed about something that I have not done a good job of giving my worries to Jesus.  Let’s face it, it is hard not to let stress fester.

The more I let the stress bother me and take me off track the more I worry.  It is great to have friends who are good listeners, but nobody wants to hear all my worries.  It is exhausting and unproductive to one’s relationship when it is ongoing.    

Jesus is my go-to for all my stress and worries.  When I feel that unsettling nag in my stomach or am so uncomfortable I can’t sit still thinking of the issue at hand, I pass my troubles to Jesus.

It took some work to be able to hand over my stress.  I pray and let Jesus know that I am releasing my worries and listening for how to proceed with the issue. 

At first, my thoughts get in the way and I think of all the things that I can do to fix the problem.  As I think of all the ways to solve the issue my stress escalates.

I stop myself and once again pray releasing the issue to Jesus.  I know that I have to be willing to let go of control.   

Focusing on prayer I again give control to Jesus.  I do this until I feel a sense of peace within my body.  I no longer feel tension, I feel relaxed.

Some solutions take longer than I would prefer and others might not progress or end how I imagined.  Often my plans are altered, but in hindsight, I see how each challenge prepared me for my next adventure.

When I say that I give control to Jesus, that doesn’t mean that I do nothing.  I rely on Jesus to show me the path, to open and close doors when the time is right, and to place the right people along my journey.

This past week I found myself stressing over a situation that has a big impact on my family, yet I didn’t have first-hand information to make a good decision.  I felt my body tense and my mind race with solutions.  Yet I still did not have all the information I needed to make a decision or be helpful. 

After a few stressful moments, I knew my only solution was to pray.  The situation warranted several rounds of giving control to Jesus.  I gave the issue away and listened for a solution.  It was clear that I successfully gave over control when my body felt at peace.  I continue to remind myself not to get in Jesus’s way.

When I have a great deal of stress in my life, I know I am carrying too much on my shoulders.  I am addicted to living a peaceful life.  I know that when I release control to Jesus and follow my path, doors open, and problems are solved.     

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