Years ago, a visit to the dentist proved to be more than a tooth check-up.
A dentist is not a psychologist or a neurologist, so I was taken aback when the dentist looked into my mouth and asked, “Do you suffer from stress” My answer was garbled. A bright light in my eyes and ten fingers in my mouth are never comfortable.
“No, I am happy, relaxed, chilled.” Then he pointed out that I grind my teeth. Apparently, that is a sign of stress, worry and anxiety. Then I realised that you and I can suffer from stress without being aware of it. I wondered if Jesus was stressed.
It is obvious that he had a very stressful life, from the cradle to the grave. I wonder how he handled a life full of stress. It wasn’t long before I discovered Jesus’ keys to dealing with stress. He regularly spent time alone.
He frequented lonely places, away from the pressure of the crowds. Finally, Jesus mixed with people, small groups and up to 5 000 at a time. Variety is the spice of life. I wonder what the dentist thinks when he looks into your mouth. Does he suspect stress and anxiety in your life? You may not know it, you may not believe it but 99 per cent of us in the 21st century have anxiety issues, young and old, rich and poor.
Our stress could subtly undermine our health and our immune system.
Yes, you can fight stress by eating regularly, drinking enough liquids and getting rest. But here is a bit of free Bible medicine.Matthew 6:34, “Don’t worry about tomorrow, it will worry about itself”.
Have fun and laugh a lot, it helps.
