The Economy, Stress and Your Pain – Weekly Faith and Health Scripture – Matthew 6:25-34

Dr. Christopher Edwards, director of the Behavioral Chronic Pain Management program at Duke University Medical Center, says his pain-management program in Durham, N.C. is seeing a rise in patients amid the current economic crisis: “There’s a very strong relationship between the economy and the number of out-of-control stress cases we see.”

Katherine Muller is a cognitive therapist and director of psychology training at Montefiore Medical Center in Bronx, N.Y.  She says “The message I’m trying to send(to my patients) is that you are responsible for your own stress. The way you are looking at it and feeling about it is more up to you than you realize.”

Both of the above excerpts were taken from a Wall Street Journal health column written by Melina Beck on March 17, 2009.  Her article is another reminder of the affect that chronic stress can have on our physical health. In this case, it’s the stress people are experiencing because of their perceptions and beliefs about their finances and the impact the economy is having on their lives. Beck mentions the value of exercise, biofeedback and therapy as methods to alleviate stress, however she makes no mention of the spiritual dimension of one’s life and the value of it in managing the stressors associated with this economic mess were are in. Read more of this article »

Trust in God During Economic Recession and Financially Hard Times

The key to staying grounded during these economically difficult times is keeping your trust in God.  After all, what are your alternatives – trusting in yourself, the banks, your employer?

As President Obama said in a speech on Monday, “This isn’t a “run-of-the-mill recession.”"  That being the case, you will not be successful in resorting to “run-of-the-mill” solutions to managing your responses to the situation.

Financial Stressors Lead to Physical Problems

The less we trust in God, the more likely we’ll be affected emotionally. Our emotional responses, if left unchecked, will affect us physically.  A USA Today article in September of 2008 stated, Read more of this article »

Have Faith, God is Our Strength in Times of Trouble – Psalm 46

During my quiet time this morning I was led to Psalm 46.

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear, even if earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea. Let the oceans roar and foam. Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge!” (1-3)

Thinking about our country’s crisis right now in the economic world you could easily substitute some words for this Psalm and it would apply today:

“So we will not fear even if a financial crisis comes in and the stock market plummets to new lows.” “Let the retirement accounts plummet and crumble and let the people on Wall Street and the stock market tremble as our confidence in the economy is at an all time low.”

The key in these verses is found in verse one and two – God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble so we will not fear.

I think that’s what God is calling us to do during these times. Remember that God is our refuge. He is our strength, so we should not fear – no matter what happens in the economic world or to our personal investments. God is reminding us to be still and know that He is God and know that He is in control and know that He will provide and He will make a way.

It’s in God that we can find our true security, no matter what happens, be it in our personal finances or any other aspect of our life.

I have been reading the works of Watchman Nee, a Chinese Christian author who died in 1972. In his book, The Spiritual Man ( a free on-line ebook), Nee writes about man’s soul and his emotions and how critical it is to allow the Holy Spirit to influence our reactions:

“One quality which characterizes a spiritual person is the great calm he maintains under every circumstance. Whatever may happen around him or however much he may be provoked, he accepts it all calmly and exhibits an unmovable nature. He is one who is able to regulate his every feeling, because his emotion has been yielded to the cross and his will and spirit are permeated with the power of the Holy Spirit. No extreme provocation has the strength to unsettle him. But if one has not accepted the dealing of the cross upon his emotion, then he will be easily influenced, stimulated, disturbed, and even governed by the external world. He will undergo constant change, for emotion shifts often. The slightest threat from outside or the smallest increase in work shall upset him and render him helpless. Whoever genuinely desires to be perfect must let the cross cut deeper into his emotion.” (P. 429)

Finally, let’s also be reminded of what the Psalmist writes in verse 10: “Be still, and know that I am God!”

Related Blog Post – God Gives Strength: Isaiah 40:29

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In Times of Stress Like This

USA Today reported on the physical consequences related to the stress people are under, especially over this last week. An article on September 19th – today as I write this – titled “Money Woes, Other Stresses Bring Unwanted Physical Response” says “As the market melts down, hurricanes wreak havoc, war grinds on and feelings of helplessness set in, stress goes up.” ComPsych, an employee assistance and wellness provider, has seen a 10% to 15% spike in calls since the weekend according to their vice president of health and wellness.

“The connection between mind/body is seamless,” says Linda Rosenberg, CEO of the National Council for Community Behavioral Healthcare. “There isn’t a separate brain and a separate body. What you’re thinking about has an effect on your physical well-being. General good health means good mental health.”

So what’s a Christian to do during times like this? We take care of ourselves in a variety of ways: Get plenty of sleep, eat well, engage in regular physical activity, review our investment portfolios, manage our time effectively and we care for our heart in a spiritual way. We do the very best we can to give our cares and worries to Jesus. We pray for ourself and our leaders. We put our trust in Him. (Proverbs 3:5-6, Isaiah 26: 3-4)) We spend more time with Him. We ask God for wisdom. (James 1:5-6) We remember that it’s in our trials that our faith has an opportunity to grow… we get opportunities to exercise our faith muscles at times like this.

And we invite Jesus to be our personal trainer.

See a listing of scriptures for faith in times of stress on my website.