Managing Stress in the Time of the End

Stress is the normal wear and tear of life on all created beings. Our first parents, perfect from their Creator with only positive stress, needed to regularly eat from the tree of life to restore and ensure eternal life.

Negative destructive stress came with sin, fear, anxiety, evil, depression, death, and the like. The death of Jesus, our Creator, solved the sin problem. “The punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed” (Isa. 53:5).[*] Humanity is reconciled to God and, by faith and trust in Jesus, I am restored by accepting His gift of forgiveness and eternal life (see John 3:16).

Stress Intensified

Alert students of Bible prophecy, especially those who understand the great controversy, see clearly that the final events described in Scripture are happening in real time. Converging extreme global trends are clear signals that our planet is rapidly facing destruction on many fronts. The prophet Daniel describes “a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then” (Dan. 12:1).

As I write, at least 56 major wars are raging across our planet. Add extreme natural disasters and the uncertainty of civilization transforming artificial intelligence, and no wonder anxiety, depression, and related emotional illnesses are increasingly plaguing humanity globally.

Stress is manageable to a point. To survive these turbulent times, however, God’s people must receive the gift of peace that Jesus promised. “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. . . . Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27).

Managing Basic Stress

Stress is not what happens to us, good or bad, but our response. In early December a few years ago my wife and I were driving through eastern Nevada in the United States. It was early evening and very dark on a two-lane road. Suddenly a huge elk appeared in front of us. Without exaggeration its rack of antlers was as large as the hood of my truck. There he was, standing in the middle of the road.

To survive these turbulent times, God’s people must receive the gift of peace that Jesus promised.

I slammed on the brakes, and the large camping trailer I was towing with my truck swayed back and forth so violently I thought we would flip over. I stopped within inches of that massive, beautiful creature. It turned its head with the enormous rack of antlers and looked at us as if to say, “What are you doing in my space?”

For me, having lived many decades on this dangerous planet under the protective care of my heavenly Father, missing by a little bit is the equivalent of missing by a lot. As my body relaxed from a major stress response, I concluded that both the elk and I would live to enjoy another day. My stress was minimal because my reaction was negligible. The enormous elk eventually moved off the road, and we drove on, feeling blessed to have experienced another miracle of deliverance.

Basic Resilience Skills Everyone Needs

Stress hardiness varies among individuals; some with very little stress tolerance become stressed easily. Others can handle huge amounts of stress and thrive. We strengthen stress resilience through regular physical activity, healthy eating, and adequate rest. Also, we must resolve deep-seated stressors, have a positive mental attitude, and adapt to ever-demanding technology.

Awareness of what is causing your negative stress and how it is affecting you internally and externally is vital. Time limitations, people problems, health, and money issues have always been stressors. Today we have several new ones, with information overload being a significant one. It is driving the rapid speed of change, which can be overwhelming. The speed of life that comes with mobile phones, social media, and now artificial intelligence can be overpowering.

Balance is crucial. I knew an elementary school teacher who worked full-time with a new baby and her husband away on assignment for three weeks of every month. She was on the edge of burnout. It was clear that she needed balance. Financially, she did not need to be working full-time, yet she loved her job and needed the challenge. Her solution was to share a full-time position and teach half-time. Within weeks she was back enjoying life.

A high-energy friend had the opposite problem. He enjoyed a demanding job but was bored. He needed more challenge, so he began volunteering several hours a week.

Control is indispensable. Everyone has stressors that they have no control over. The unexpected death of a loved one is a deep-seated stressor. Here we adapt and move through the grief. But with much of our stress, we have more control than we realize. Years ago I conducted a stress management seminar at a community college in a small town in western Canada. Five years later I returned to the same town, same college, and conducted the same seminar.

Awareness of what is causing your negative stress and how it is affecting you internally and externally is vital.

During the break a woman came to me and said, “I attended your seminar five years ago, and you saved my life. I was a single mom, exhausted and depressed. I hated my job, plus I had the boss from hell. I was in the advanced stages of burnout. You gave me the tools to change and heal. I took control and retrained. Then I fired that boss. Now I have a new job that I love. I am rested, relaxed, and blessed. Thanks.”

Deep-seated Stressors

Deep-seated stressors are internal, unnatural fears and anxiety, unresolved grief, abuse, negative emotions, and negative attitudes. Emotions such as anger, hostility, hatred, and jealousy kill joy and peace while increasing both physical and emotional illness. Forgiveness is a powerful stress buffer that actually heals negative emotions and attitudes. Learning to forgive yourself and others will reduce much of the stress. Sometimes we must decide to forgive someone who has seriously hurt us but who will never recognize the pain they caused. We do this for our benefit so we can move on; life is too short to carry around these negative stressors.

Processing pain, grief, loss, and serious abuse issues most often requires professional help. Please seek the care of a qualified counselor if you are dealing with these issues.

Jacob’s Time of Trouble

Today we must face the reality that managing stress is complicated in these final days of earth’s history. Our trust in Jesus must be firm and unwavering. When Jesus returns, His people will be safe and at peace. We must learn to trust Him in crisis.

The ancient patriarch Jacob experienced a night of intense stress (Gen. 32:22-32). Why? Trust in God did not come easily for Jacob. Several times God Himself and His angels met and reassured Jacob that he would arrive safely back at Canaan. Jacob spent a fearful, difficult night because he could not trust the Word of God.

I do not see Jacob’s panic in the life of Daniel or his three friends as they lived under a death decree (see Dan. 1; 3; 6). All were delivered without the terror and desperation of Jacob. God will give His people the grace to be at peace in the final crisis.

Recently I was talking to a longtime friend who is struggling with focus regarding how the Lord is leading him in a serious personal crisis. I heard myself saying, “You need to focus on Jesus and His direction for you.”

God’s people living in these last days must be laser-focused on their friendship with Jesus. We cannot be lukewarm about Him. If you find yourself unenthusiastic or apathetic about Jesus, accept His invitation immediately to “be earnest and repent” (Rev. 3:19). “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me” (verse 20). This is end-time advanced stress management that will ensure your survival through the final crisis and into eternity.

[*] All Scripture texts are from the New International Version.