by Michael Duduit Putting Stress Behind You

Do you have any interest in joining the Coronary Club? Here are some of the membership requirements:

1. Never say NO to a request - always say YES.
2. Your job comes first; personal considerations are secondary.
3. Accept all invitations to meetings, banquets, committees, etc.
4. Go to the office evenings, Saturdays, Sundays, and holidays.
5. Golf, bowling and hobbies are a waste of time.
6. It is a poor policy to take all the vacation time which is provided to you.
7. Never delegate responsibility to others; carry the whole load at all times.
8. Do not eat a restful, relaxing meal - always plan a conference for the dinner hour.
9. If you work calls for traveling, then work all day and drive all night to make your appointment for the next morning.
10. Fishing and hunting are a waste of time and money - you never bring back enough fish or game to justify the expense.
11. Take the briefcase home on the evenings when you do not go to the office. This provides an opportunity to review completely all the troubles and worries of the day.

Recognize yourself in any of those items? Most leaders will.

Those membership requirements are the building blocks of stress, which is one of the major challenges leaders face today. A 1996 Prevention magazine survey found that almost 75 percent of us feel we have "great stress" one day a week, and one out of three indicate they feel this way more than twice a week. In fact, it has been estimated that 75-90 percent of all visits to primary care physicians are for stress related problems.

Is stress a modern phenomenon? No, it is as old as the human condition. I'm sure there were times when Noah looked at the unfinished ark and said, "How am I ever going to get this job finished?"

And the Word of God also provides wise counsel to those of us who are feeling stress. In Proverbs 3:5-6, we read: "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 your paths straight."

That passage contains three prescriptions and a promise.

1. Trust Him

Trust the Lord who knows you, knows your problem, and will make a way for you. Have you heard of the grandpa who was taking his first flight across the country in order to see his grandchildren? Upon arrival, they said, "Flying wasn't so bad, was it?" Grandpa said, "Maybe not, but I never did put my whole weight down on that thing."

You can trust God, and put your weight down on Him.

2. Don't lean on yourself

Don't be a lone ranger. Bring your best gifts to any problem, but realize you aren't in this alone. Turn to trusted friends, family, co-workers. Most of all, lean on the Lord.

Have you ever seen someone using a crutch to support himself after an injury? When you've injured a leg or foot, using that crutch makes more sense than trying to depend on your own capacity. Likewise, God says, "Lean on me. I'll help you not to fall."

3. Acknowledge Him

In a sense, the first two prescriptions are dependent on this one. In order to full trust and to lean on the resources of God, we need to recognize who God is and what He is capable of doing in our lives. When we fully understand who God is and what He can do, we realize there's no reason for us to be driven by stress. That's why prayer helps so much when we are dealing with stress; going into His presence is a helpful reminder of just who God is and why we can depend on Him.

Then there's a promise: He will make a way for you.

The language of Proverbs describes making a road that will allow smooth travel: straight, ready for travel, the obstacles removed. If you trust Him, lean on Him, and understand who God is, He will provide a way for you to move through whatever challenges life may bring.

There's a wonderful little chorus by Don Moen that says: "God will make a way, when there seems to be no way." Are you feeling stress right now? Then allow the God who created everything create a path for you. All you have to do is ask.

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Michael Duduit is President/CEO of American Ministry Resources LLC, and editor of Leader Links. You can contact him at michael@leaderlinks.com or visit his website at www.michaelduduit.com