Stress: Is it Good or Bad?

Stress is an inevitable part of life, but it is how we choose to see it that will change our lives.

I will tell you a little about me. Ever since I was a young child I have always been a worrywart, scared of everything, and just anxious all the time. The unknown and change are what would stress me out about anything in life and my parents told me everything. There was no blissful ignorance for me because I was the oldest. I have always been told that I was forced to grow up too fast and I didn't have a childhood. What forced me through the comfy childhood phase you might ask? A little something we call, "stressors."

Stressors in personal life or within a family are something that creates tension or stain within the family or person's life. This can also be known as a crisis. Some examples include the death of a child, parent, or spouse, an affair, divorce, being laid off, chronically ill, disability, abuse of any kind, and a family member involved in criminal activity.

Now I don't normally discuss such things, I think they would benefit from the conversation. Until I moved out of my family home, I felt like I was bombarded with stressors on a daily basis. I am the oldest of 3 girls but we are all 7 years apart from one another. My parents were married in an unusual arrangement and they had me very young. I grew up in poverty and defiantly in the lower class. Every time my dad got a job a major injury would happen or he was laid off within a year. My parents separated and overall had a very unhealthy relationship. Even though they have not divorced threats are always in the air. I grew up in terror that one day my parents would get arrested for choices they made foolishly. This is to only name a few.

I was no stranger to hardships, no stranger to stress and anxiety, however, it was my viewpoint that saved me. I mean that completely, it saved my life as sometimes I went into very dark places.

Though those memories can have a bitter taste if I want to throw myself a pity party, I attribute those moments to who I am today. I know that I have been strong enough to get through hard things, and that was the time I met my Lord and Heavenly Father. They gave me a purpose and showed me the light in the darkness.

I'll share with you my favorite scripture, Matthew 5:14-16

14 Ye are the alight of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid.

15 Neither do men light a acandle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house.

16 Let your alight so shine before men, that they may see your good bworks, and cglorify your Father which is in heaven.

You can see here that there is always light in the darkness and it can be yourself. Do not hide away the light but glorify it. Glorify Heavenly Fathers. And even in situations that seem so dark, maybe there is light hiding, search for it and let it free.

If religion is not your thing here is another example from an ABBA song called, I Believe in Angel's. (Which I like to use the play on my own name as encouragement ;) ) They sing:

And my destination makes it worth the while

Pushing through the darkness still another mile

I believe in angels

Something good in everything I see

Just remember to try to see the good when everything seems to be bad because I promise it is there and you can get through it. Because as ABBA says, the destination makes it worthwhile, whether your destination is a life long goal or even to return to Heavenly Father.