In our last blog, we discussed the stress filled life of Daniel Boone, and how we can use his life as a model to see how we can turn down the stress. As you may recall, Boone endured just about every stressor that one could have. If you think your life is hard, think about being Daniel Boone. (Imagine being $20 million in debt, being sued, having your son being tortured to death, your daughter kidnapped, being chased by a bear, and just when you thought your day couldn’t get any worse…you go to the outhouse and realize your wife just used the last corncob).
Previously, we discussed how keeping a positive attitude, a continued focus on you faith, and examining the situation in proper perspective can help your handling of the situation. Last time, we saw how Boone could keep a positive attitude. This time, let’s look at focus.
When I refer to focus, I’m talking about constantly reminding yourself to think about your faith. Remembering your faith helps to keep a positive attitude and examining life situations in proper perspective. You need to constantly remind yourself of your faith as we all tend to forget our faith at times. Let’s consider some Biblical characters that saw or talked with God and/or witnessed amazing miracles and yet still seem to forget God:
- In Genesis 20:2, Abraham gives up his wife, Sarah, to King Abimelech telling him that she is his sister. One would think Abraham would have remembered to ask God for a better solution (unless Sarah was like Boone’s wife and had used the last corncob).
- In Exodus 32, the Israelites make a golden calf to worship while waiting for Moses.
Here we find out that the same people who had just witnessed the parting of the Red Sea can’t remember who their real God is? It’s incredible how short our memory can be. (In fact, a quick look at my wife’s journal indicates she learns this lesson once a week.) - In 2 Samuel 11, King David forgets God’s laws and commits murder and adultery to get Bathsheba. You’d think that one of his seven other wives would have reminded him. Maybe they didn’t have rolling pins in those days.
- In 1 and 2 Kings, the story of Elijah tells us of the incredible power and miracles that the prophet could do, including: calling down rain and fire, and raising the dead. However, he had clearly forgotten God when he ran and hid from Queen Jezebel.
- At the last supper, Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Christ three times that night; Peter’s response was that would never happen. It took a cock’s crowing to remind him. Pretty bad when a rooster has better memory than you do.
When under stress, we all tend to forget the Lord. Remembering can help us find a positive attitude, gain a better perspective, and give us strength (knowing that He is on our side).
There are many ways we can find reminders:
- Music, artwork, books
- Reading the Bible, frequent prayer and meditation
- Thanks to today’s phones and computers, you can get constant reminders.
- I keep a small stone in my pocket with the word ‘rejoice’ inscribed. I’m reminded at the end of the day, whenever I empty my pockets.
- Jews use a mezuzah, which is a small case containing parchment paper with the Shema prayer – Deuteronomy 6:9, ‘Hear O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One.’ The mezuzah is placed on the doorframe, so each time they go in, they touch it and/or say a prayer as a reminder. Interestingly, the mezuzah is tilted at an angle as the early rabbis couldn’t decide whether to hang it vertically or horizontally, and so they compromised.
Whatever the problem, when we seek and remember God’s world, our problems fade in comparison. Next time, we’ll examine the benefits of God’s perspective to reduce stress.