Hey there!
Let’s take a moment to recap what we’ve covered so far. We acknowledged that stress can stem from false beliefs, personal suffering, or physical factors impacting our bodies. To fully explore how to lower stress levels from a spiritual approach, we needed to establish a foundation of trust in God’s goodness. I took you on this detour because I believe if we don’t address and firmly establish the reliability and trustworthiness of God in our hearts, then the strategies I’m about to share for lowering cortisol levels from a spiritual perspective might not have the impact we desire. It’s because deep down, we may have a conflict, either consciously or subconsciously, about how suffering can exist alongside a good and loving God. I genuinely hope that through our journey, you’ve grown in your confidence in God’s trustworthiness and the unwavering goodness of His heart toward you! Now, armed with this belief, we can delve into practical ways to reduce stress from a spiritual approach.
In a previous post I gave you a short overview of various techniques for managing stress, many of which were self-directed and secular in nature. However, I’m passionate about incorporating practices that not only regulate our nervous systems but also prioritize our connection with God. I have found aligning my stress relief practices with my faith, helped me experience a deeper sense of peace and strength.
I’m really passionate about steering away from new age practices and focusing on bringing peace to our activated systems with God as the center. So, I want to share some ideas on how you can develop a practice for regulating your nervous system that not only brings you closer to God but also enhances its effectiveness. I truly believe that when God is at the center of these practices, they become even more powerful and potent than doing isolated exercises without Him.
When stress hits, our instinct is to find comfort or solutions elsewhere. It’s in our nature to seek regulation through genuine connection. And by that, I mean finding someone who can understand our distress, validate our experiences, and assure us that everything will be alright. The problem is, this kind of authentic connection isn’t always readily available to us, so we end up resorting to other coping mechanisms.
What we often forget in such moments is that God is always there for us. The enemy tries to convince us otherwise, whispering doubts about God’s reliability and goodness. These lies can sometimes prevent us from turning to Him. However, I want to emphasize that genuine connection with God is the key to finding true comfort and peace. That’s precisely why I’ve presented you with so much evidence to show that God is truly trustworthy. He is always available to us, ready to provide the comfort and assurance we need in times of stress.
Let’s dive into the incredible emotions that God promises and encourages us to experience. These emotions have the power to renew us and turn our stress into strength. They include having the courage to trust, accepting things as they are, forgiving others, and finding wisdom in His Word. These emotions are precious gifts from God that remind us of His goodness.
Take a moment to look at the frequencies of these emotions on the chart again. It’s fascinating how they resonate at such high Hz levels. This should give you even more confidence that when God commands us to engage in these emotions, it’s for our own benefit. He deeply cares about us and wants us to experience the healing and transformation that these emotions bring. I know it may feel counterintuitive at times, but a little bit of science and understanding the numbers can truly convince us to give it more than just a halfhearted try.
As new creations in Christ, we have been given an incredible power. We can take charge from our spirit and guide our soul and body towards the truth found in God’s Word. It’s like being a loving parent to our emotions, gently leading them towards the promises God has given us. And guess what? We can even care for our vagus nerve, which is connected to our body’s stress response, through acts of worship, singing, and spiritual connection with God. It’s like evangelizing our own emotions with His truth, training our minds to find peace amidst the chaos.
Did you know that singing and engaging our vocal chords have been scientifically shown to help with vagus nerve care? So why not combine the power of singing with the truth of God’s Word? There are countless scripture songs out there that you can search for, allowing you to find exactly what resonates with you. I’ve personally experienced the incredible impact of combining truth with song, and I’d love to share two examples with you. As you sing these songs, take a moment to really meditate on their meaning and let the words sink deep into your heart. You can also choose to memorize other relevant passages of Scripture that speak directly to your situation. Remember, it’s not about finding the “best” song or verse, but rather finding what truly connects with your current distress and allows you to emotionally engage with it.
All the activities are actually recommended for vagus nerve training, and the best part is that we can make them centered around God! We have so many wonderful ways to incorporate these practices into our lives and use them as tools for spiritual growth and stress relief.
To make this transformation even more tangible, I encourage you to commit verses to memory that deeply resonate with your soul. These verses become like anchors in moments of stress, reminding us of God’s promises and His ever-present love. As we meditate on these truths, they shape our thinking, bringing us grace and resilience as we navigate through life’s challenges.
In managing stress, it’s helpful to adopt what I have coined a “duct tape” approach, which involves applying foundational practices that address multiple stressors simultaneously. While there may be specific areas that require individual attention, nurturing a strong spiritual foundation can provide a significant boost to our resilience. As we wrap our leaky buckets with the “duct tape” of God-focused practices, we prevent unnecessary drainage and preserve our inner strength.
As new creations in Christ, we have an incredible privilege. We have direct access to God as our 4F responder, which refers to the fight, flight, freeze, and fawn responses that are ingrained in our survival instincts.
Just take a moment to look at the graphic and see all that God is for us. It’s truly astounding!
Now, here’s something I’ve been pondering: I have this theory that Adam and Eve, in their original state before the fall, didn’t need these 4F responses for survival. I believe that these responses are actually a part of our fallen nature, just like illnesses are. Don’t get me wrong, they have served their purpose in helping us navigate through this broken world. But as God came to make things right, I believe He is calling us to find our safety in Him once again.
So, what would it feel like to think about speaking to your body and leading your old nature to rest and surrender its self-reliant survival instincts to God? Let me be clear, it doesn’t mean that we don’t have a part to play. There will still be boundaries, consequences, and choices to be made with our free will. However, we can make these decisions from a place of safety with God, instead of taking matters into our own hands.
I want to encourage you to start practicing awareness in your trigger moments, those times of distress or threat. Take a moment to identify what you truly need in those moments. Are you feeling afraid and in need of protection? Are you sick and in need of healing? Perhaps you’re hurt and in need of comfort, or maybe you feel attacked and need a defender. Whatever it may be, recognize your needs and engage in practices that help you connect with God in those areas. You can do this through memory work, song, journaling, or finding visuals that resonate with your soul.
Have you ever found yourself feeling irritated with Paul’s letters and the challenging instructions he gives? I know I have. But here’s the thing: Paul knew what he was talking about. He wasn’t living a life of luxury in a million-dollar mansion with everything perfectly lined up. No, he was actually writing most of these instructions from a prison cell, having endured countless traumas that most of us can’t even fathom.
Just take a moment to think about that. If Paul went through all those hardships and still emerged on the other side with joy and victory, doesn’t it make you curious to try what he suggests? I have a newfound respect for him when I consider all that he endured and how he overcame it. It must have been incredibly challenging for him to press through, especially at first.
In our journey of managing stress biblically, we can learn invaluable lessons from Paul. He was a trauma survivor who faced numerous trials, and yet he found strength and peace by practicing forgiveness, rejoicing, empathy, prayer, gratitude, trust, and worship. We have the opportunity to follow in his footsteps and cultivate these practices in our own lives.
Take a moment to reflect on the things that Paul did to overcome his own traumas, triggers, and hardships. Consider which one of them resonates with you the most and commit to practicing it consistently for a while. And here’s my challenge to you: don’t give up easily. Give it a daily effort for a whole month and reserve your conclusions until the end. I know that these practices can be tough at first, like working with a muscle that has become weak and atrophied. But remember to be kind and patient with yourself, gradually building up your strength and consistency.
My friend, as we embark on this journey of managing stress from a spiritual perspective, let’s remember that God is our ultimate source of strength and peace. By prioritizing our connection with Him and aligning our stress relief practices with our faith, we can experience a deeper sense of well-being. So, let’s wrap our leaky buckets with the duct tape of God’s truth, and together, we will overcome stress and find lasting peace.
I’m praying for abundant grace and strength for you on this transformative path!
I love all the scientific spin couple with the spiritual. I agree, true peace occurs in our relationship and dependence on God. Very informative!
Thank you for reading! I’m glad it was informative! 💜
“My friend, as we embark on this journey of managing stress from a spiritual perspective, let’s remember that God is our ultimate source of strength and peace. ” Amen!
💗