The peace of God is His gift to us as His children. But stress seems to creep up at times when we feel overloaded with life’s demands. Stress is burden, overload, pressure and anxiety; and you were not created to lug that weight around with you every day. So, what’s the answer?

Proverbs 3:5 (KJV) exposes the source of stress and gives us the answer to it: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.”

Here are some of the ways you can trust in the Lord and de-stress your life:

• Are you worrying or “taking thought” about the basic needs of life —what you will eat, drink and wear? Make a list of all the worries you’re carrying, and put them in categories. How many are considered basic needs?
• Remember, God knows you have these needs, and He promises to take care of you. Choose to roll the care and the worry of these basic needs onto the Lord. Most importantly, refuse to take them back! Release them to Him in faith, and ask Him to do a tangible work in your life.
• If you’ve accepted stress as a normal part of life, it’s time to renew your mind in the Word of God! Study and memorize verses about peace, joy and casting your cares upon Him. Let them sink into your spirit until they become a natural part of your thinking.
• Whenever you are tempted to worry or stress about a situation, say out loud, “I take no thought about that! God has provided for me, and I receive it in Jesus’ Name!”