Stress

Stress is the current pandemic. Traffic snarls, tight budgets, rising prices, and the latest sickness running through schools tighten the soul.

Stress affects families and keeps eyes open at night.

Here’s more good news. Stress shrinks your brain.

When Dr. Rarjita Sinha imaged the brains of 100 subjects, they found daily stressful events reduce the part of the brain called the prefrontal cortex. (That’s the part that lets us maintain self-control, rather than tearing out the speaker.) And worse, traumatic events pile on this damage and can cause depression and mood disorders.

Most stress comes from our desire to control the universe. We want traffic to part like the Red Sea and work to have a Teflon feel. We want our kids to cooperate and the bills to grow smaller.

The answer to stress is simple. Stop trying to act like God.

David said,

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10, ESV)

Let God be God and let your own need to control fall to the ground like an autumn leaf.

It’s difficult, but it can keep your brain from shrinking. Be still and let God work.