"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." James 1:2-4
“Calm down!” Parents say it to their kids, peers say it to each other, police say it to perpetrators, and we say it to ourselves, “calm down.” In recent months, perhaps due to the rise in Artificial Intelligence, medical revelations have come at an exponential rate. For instance, recently the medical journal Neurology, published an article citing new discoveries regarding stomach acid. There have long been theories regarding the effects of stomach acid—or the lack thereof—on the stomach, but new research has connected acid to so much more. “The side effects of PPIs (protein pump inhibitors) have always been a big point of discussion,” says gastroenterologist Dr. Lucy Joo. “Everything from skin rashes, electrolyte disturbances, kidney injury, bone fractures and increased risk of C. diff—a very serious infection—have been associated with long-term PPI use.” This study specifically shows that, “Those who used PPIs for more than 4 years…were at 33% higher risk of developing dementia than those reporting no use.” There are a lot of medical reasons why PPIs or the like are necessary to control stomach acid, but there is also a source of stomach disturbance that medical intervention can’t really touch—and that is stress. A poll released from the American Psychological Association explains, “The U.S. population has experienced an intense range of stressors over the past few years, as the COVID-19 pandemic, racial injustice, and political divisiveness have dominated news cycles and social media.” It continues by noting that Americans are “concerned for the future, beset by inflation, [displaying] a battered American psyche, [and] facing a barrage of external stressors that are mostly out of personal control. There are real world dangers to our lives lurking in our coping methods to stress. When we experience stress, our body is actually reacting to perceived danger. This danger can include a threat to physical safety, emotional well-being, relational belonging, financial security, or any other way we might feel unsafe. For many people, stress exists like a constant pulsation, a tension that may grow softer or stronger but is always there. This tension is telling our brains that we are not safe enough to relax and therefore keeps our minds and bodies in a state of fight or flight. In response, our adrenal glands release the hormone cortisol. Cortisol “alters immune system responses and suppresses the digestive system, the reproductive system and growth processes. This complex natural alarm system also communicates with the brain regions that control mood, motivation, and fear” (Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 2021). High levels of cortisol are detrimental to health and often have immediate and long-term consequences to well-being. Not only, then, is stress unpleasant to experience regularly, it also contributes to ongoing mental and physical health issues. A summary of the American Psychological Association poll found in Carson-Newman University “Communications” states that “46% of adults under the age of 35 surveyed said they are so stressed that they cannot function. The majority of those ages 18 to 34 indicated that most days, they are completely overwhelmed by stress….Ongoing stress can have a negative impact on health. Adults report headaches and fatigue as symptoms, and many report feeling depressed or anxious. Over time, long-term exposure to stress hormones can increase the risk of mental health concerns, cardiovascular disease, and obesity. I believe we all can identify with one or more of these responses to stress. So much of our emotional and mental energy is spent reacting to the pressures of living that it is easy to overlook the dangerous effect on our bodies. How do people of faith respond to the enormous stressors of our time? Don’t respond at all! Our greatest asset is our ability to act first. We are able to initiate within ourselves actions that will deal with any and all stressors before they come our way. While "stress" is not specifically mentioned in the Bible, Scripture does speak to things such as anxiety, worry, and trouble—things we often associate with stress—and gives us clear answers on how we should deal with them. Critiquing our way of reacting to stress, Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? … And which of you, by being anxious, can add a single hour to his span of life?" Matthew 6:25, 27. Jesus continually teaches that our position of strength to overcome stress is not a response at all, but an initial way of living. In the Gospel of John Jesus teaches us, "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me." (14:1) Believing in God and cultivating a personal relationship with Jesus does not mean that we will have a trouble-free life. Jesus teaches that He is the Way of life and that true life (stress free life) is found only in him, life without Jesus Christ makes coping with stress an impossible and often debilitating task. We are all well aware of the pitfalls associated with depending on ourselves to over come the stressors of our lives. Turning to alcohol or drugs or mindless entertainment are common ways we “cope” with stress. St. James tells us to, "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (1:2-4). The testing of our faith is not the occasional trial or problem “sent by God.” Think of it this way. If you were driving on a completely bald tire and you got a flat, would you think of the flat as a test of your common sense? No, the flat would have been expected. Common sense would have been employed before driving on that tire. The test of common sense took place before you even left. The faith God builds in is tested by our action toward stress, not in our response to it. In the Book of Proverbs 3:5-6 we are told, "trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths." We are instructed to trust before we act, to trust as an act. I have often spoken about the joy we can find in God and the peace which is waiting for us. Paul proclaimed this to the Philippians and to us when he wrote, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in the knowledge and love of Christ Jesus." (4:6-7) God’s promises to us are true and real. Jesus made this known, even as he was bodily ascending to Heaven when He said, "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid." John 14:27. The ultimate solution to stress is to surrender our lives to God and seek God’s wisdom. We need to seek Jesus' peace daily by filling our minds with His Word and lifting all things to Him in prayer. It is only by His grace, mercy, and love that, as the causes of stress come, we are able to meet them with peace. Peace and health be with you, Fr. Bill†
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AuthorFather Bill Burk† Archives
February 2025
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