Comfort "where brooding darkness spreads his jealous wings" (John Milton)

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Where's Your Focus when You Feel Stressed?


J. Purcell, blogger
"Now more than ever we see the effects of stress," experts may say of loss or desired gains. Yet every generation deals with such things under names like malaise, depression, overload, fatigue, disconnection, burnout, and grief_a few of the many from which to choose.

Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones wrote the book Spiritual Depression, and he mentioned too much introspection as a builder of stress. He also mentioned being too hard on ourselves and expecting perfection as major causes of creating and feeding stress.  

C.H. Spurgeon (The Mourner's Comforter) focused on paying attention to the self. He said that whether we are aware of it or not we are beloved of God. He wrote many books and sermons to try to wake readers and listeners up, to pay attention to the wonders they were missing. 

Dr. Lloyd-Jones and Mr. Spurgeon said almost the same thing about focusing on the self. If the focus leads to too much introspection, then stress increases. If the focus leads us to realize that we are beloved of God as we are, imperfections and all, then how can we live as people ruled and made sick by stress? 

When we are most stressed that is when we need to do less introspection and apply more awareness, or focus, of who we are to God. For me, the awareness often starts with simple yet beautiful things of nature. I even enjoy fog! (If I don't have to drive in it.) I find the rare fog we have where I live to be beautiful and mysterious in its misty-ness.   



A common denominator needed when stressed is to stop and pay attention to what is happening in our world, right around us. We may enjoy or be surprised if we are open to looking, listening, and opening our minds. 

Paying attention feeds our needed sense of awe and wonder. Paying attention asks us to make more time to notice beyond ourselves. God is speaking to ue, aiming to get our attention, often, while we keep looking the other way. I love the psalmist's words, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it" (Psalm 118:24). "Does not wisdom call out..." (Proverbs 8)?

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Sunday, May 1, 2011

Inescapable Suffering

Her inescapable sufferings bring hourly questions for one in what should be the prime of her life. They bring questions to those who love her and live in the questions with her. Why this...how will she...when an end...will it end...what cause...what cure...who...where...how?...

Only those close to her can faintly know the great depths of her continuing pain. 

They wait restoration of life, as Job received. Job praised God from the pit of suffering. To whom else can she and those who love her turn? All others fail. And God restored to Job all he had lost, and more.  --Anonymous


For I know that my redeemer liveth, and that he shall stand 
at the latter day upon the earth:
And though after my skin worms destroy this body, yet in my 
flesh shall I see God:
Whom I shall see for myself, and mine eyes shall behold, 
and not another; though my reins be consumed within me.  Job 19: 25-27
And God restored to Job all he had lost, and more.
God promised: I will restore to you the years the locusts have eaten. --Joel 2:25