by Doug Batchelor
An Amazing Fact:
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Tests show that after drinking three bottles of beer, there is an average of 13 percent net memory loss. After taking only small quantities of alcohol, trained typists were tested and their errors increased 40 percent. Only one ounce of alcohol increases the time required to make a decision by nearly 10 percent; hinders muscular reaction by 17 percent; increases errors due to lack of attention by 35 percent. —Paul Harvey
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Is it biblically permissible for a Christian to drink alcohol? If so, how much?
This controversial subject has evoked many passionate opinions among Christians. Why? Is God’s Word silent or in anyway unclear about alcohol?
I submit that the Bible is in no way ambiguous when it speaks on alcohol and how it relates to God’s followers. I hope the following study will assist you in forming your own biblically based conclusions on this important subject.
Two Opposing Camps
Among Christians, there are two primary camps of thought on this sensitive topic. The first group argues that Jesus Himself drank wine, and since a Christian is a follower of Christ, how can it be forbidden? And generally, they add with a moderate air: “but even so, drinking should not be done to excess.”
Then there is the other position: Alcohol is an addictive and destructive drug that no sincere Christian should use to any degree.
Of course, between these two diametrically opposed poles, there are countless variations of opinions. In this short work, I cannot possibly address the whole spectrum of perspectives—so using the Scripture and common sense, I will attempt to stay within the core principles.
In fairness, I will state from the beginning that I am firmly in the unfermented camp! I believe that scriptural references to Jesus’ use of wine are of the grape juice variety.
But before the wine connoisseurs toss this book aside, you owe it to yourself to hear me out. I come from the perspective of one who grew up frequently drinking wine or beer with dinner—I even brewed my own beer and made wine once. But I have never been an alcoholic, so my position is not the result of overreacting from a clean and sober victory.
What Is Alcohol?
Let’s begin with a definition. There are many forms of this compound called alcohol. However, there is no mistaking that all of them are classified as poisons—toxins to the human body. The alcohol found in beverages such as beer, wine, and brandy is ethanol (C2H5OH), a clear, highly flammable liquid that has a burning taste and a characteristic odor.
What happens when one consumes this type of alcohol? Well, death usually occurs if the concentration of ethanol in the bloodstream exceeds about five percent! But even for those who use it sparingly, immediate behavioral changes, impairment of vision and unconsciousness can occur at lower concentrations. That’s interesting, isn’t it? That’s exactly the same effect that other illicit drugs such as heroin, and even marijuana, have on those who use those substances. I doubt there are any Christian churches that would ordain the use of these drugs in even a casual social setting—or even to “calm the nerves” before bedtime. Is there any reason that alcohol should not be included in this list of drugs to avoid?
Two Types of Wine—
Biblically Speaking
The word “wine” in the Bible sometimes refers to the new—or fresh juice of the grape; other times it is used to describe the aged or fermented product containing the drug alcohol. The translators never used the term “grape juice.” In the Hebrew text, the writers use different words to distinguish between the two. The word tîyrôsh is used for new unfermented wine, and yayin is generally used for fermented wine, but there were some exceptions (Isaiah 16:10). However, in the New Testament, only one Greek word is used to describe both fermented and fresh grape juice: oinis . But this shouldn’t be a problem. By simply understanding the context of the word in a passage, the appropriate meaning will usually surface. So unless the passage says old or new wine (as in Luke 5:37–39), the context will often tell us what kind of grape juice is being described.
One simple example occurs in Mark 2:22: “And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined. But new wine must be put into new wineskins” (NKJV). Obviously the new wine would be the fresh unfermented kind.
Additionally, from the Old Testament, in Isaiah 65:8, we read, “As the new wine is found in the cluster, And one says, ‘Do not destroy it, For a blessing is in it…’” It is clear in both these passages that the new wine is simply grape juice.
Confusing Verses Clarified
The whole of Scripture is clearly and adamantly against the consumption of alcohol, but human nature will look upon any textual ambiguity as a “loophole” to justify drinking alcohol.
An example of this reasoning is the wedding in Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine. “When the master of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and did not know where it came from (but the servants who had drawn the water knew), the master of the feast called the bridegroom. And he said to him, ‘Every man at the beginning sets out the good wine, and when the guests have well drunk, then the inferior. You have kept the good wine until now!’” (John 2:9, 10). Those who support the intake of alcohol suggest this must have been alcoholic wine—after all, it was a wedding, and every wedding has wine—right? But let’s pause to consider the implications. There were six pots for Jesus to fill, and each of those would hold 20 to 30 gallons. That’s up to 180 gallons of beverage!
Are we to believe that Jesus made 180 gallons of a destructive drug—enough to get every guest drunk and launch this new marriage with slurring lips and staggering feet? Indeed, He would have been acting against His own Word! (Habakkuk 2:15; Luke 12:46; Ephesians 5:18). If we approach this passage relying on the whole of Scripture, we must surely come to the conclusion that Jesus made unfermented wine—and the governor of the feast complimented the groom on its pure quality. (John 2:4, 6, 10. See also Mark 1:24, 2 Samuel 16:10).
Whatever the Soul Longs For
There are additional passages of Scripture that at first glance might lead a person to think drinking a little fermented wine in moderation might be biblically condoned. In the next few sections, we will address some of the verses that are sometimes construed to condone fermented wine, when in fact they do nothing of the sort.
“And thou shalt bestow that money for whatsoever thy soul lusteth after, for oxen, or for sheep, or for wine, or for strong drink, or for whatsoever thy soul desireth: and thou shalt eat there before the LORD thy God, and thou shalt rejoice, thou, and thine household” (Deuteronomy 14:26). The phrase “strong drink” is translated from the word shekar. A Shekar is condemned by Solomon as a “brawler” (Proverbs 20:1). And Isaiah pronounces a woe upon those who “run after strong drink(shekar)” (Isaiah 5:11). Strong drink was also prohibited from the priests (Leviticus 10:9–11) and Nazarites (Numbers 6:2–4; Judges 13:3–5). So how could God so clearly condemn the use of “strong drink” in one place in the Bible, and yet approve of it in another place? Like the word yayin (“wine”), shekar is a generic term that could refer to either an alcoholic beverage, as noted above, or to a sweet, unfermented drink as is indicated in Isaiah 24:9. Shekar is also defined by the The Popular and Critical Bible Encyclopedia as: “Sweet Wine or Syrup. Shechar, luscious, saccharin drink or sweet syrup, especially sugar or honey of dates or of the palm-tree” or “Date or Palm Wine in its fresh and unfermented state.” In fact, “sugar” and “cider” are derivatives from shekar. Therefore, since shekar could mean either a sweet unfermented drink or an intoxicating drink, we must interpret the word according to the context of the verse. Would God encourage the use of tithe money to purchase a beverage that causes intoxication, health problems and diminishing of moral capacities? The only reasonable conclusion is that this verse is referring to the sweet palm-wine beverage in its fresh and unfermented state.
Even if one refuses to accept this translation of the word, keep in mind, the verse in Deuteronomy 14:26 never tells them it is okay to drink this beverage. Rather, it is addressing how they were to transport offerings to present to the Lord when traveling long distances. Moses was recommending they carry money with them rather than to haul the offerings of beasts, grain, and wine long distances. When they arrived they were to purchase whatever they needed for offerings. The animal sacrifices could be eaten but they were commanded to pour the drink offerings on the ground. “And the drink offering thereof shall be the fourth part of an hin for the one lamb: in the holy place shalt thou cause the strong wine to be poured unto the LORD for a drink offering” (Numbers 28:7).
What About the Last Supper?
Some argue that if Jesus partook of wine at the Last Supper, and even employed it as a symbol of His purifying blood, then how can drinking a little wine—even just casually—be wrong? Indeed, the very seeds of the New Testament were watered with wine from the Last Supper. There is no arguing that Jesus used wine at the Last Supper, but it is a mistake to assume that the wine was of the fermented variety.
“For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins. But I say to you, I will not drink of this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in My Father's kingdom” (Matthew 26:28–29, emphasis mine). Indeed, here Jesus uses the new wine as a symbol of His new covenant with His people. Jesus also calls wine the “fruit of the vine.” However, after wine goes through the process of fermentation, it is no more the fruit of the vine than yogurt is the fruit of a cow.
Furthermore, we also know that the Passover meal was to be free from all forms of leaven (Exodus 12:19). Fermentation is the identical process of leavening! If the bread was to be free from leaven, which is a type of sin, then we can be sure that the wine, a symbol of Jesus blood, used at the Last Supper would also be free from the poison of alcohol. The perfect, sinless blood of Jesus would never be symbolized by corrupt and putrefying old wine.
Jesus compared His pure teachings to wholesome new wine (Matthew 9:17). Indeed, all corrupted doctrines are likened to the fermented wine of Babylon! Babylon was identified as a place “with whom the kings of the earth committed fornication, and the inhabitants of the earth were made drunk with the wine of her fornication” (Rev 17:2).
Another example: “But Daniel purposed in his heart that he would not defile himself with the portion of the king's delicacies, nor with the wine (Of Babylon) which he drank” (Daniel 1:8).
Was Jesus a Drunkard?
Pharisees frequently accused Jesus of being a winebibber, drunkard and glutton. They also said He had a devil and blasphemed God, among other things. We know He wasn’t a glutton or demon-possessed blasphemer! So if these things are not true, why should we assume that our Lord was a drinker as indicated by the Pharisees, a group of Jesus’ most-outward adversaries well known for their questionable theology?
They were merely contrasting His lifestyle with the austerity of John the Baptist, a practicing Nazarite, who abstained from anything of the vine and ate locusts and wild honey (Numbers 6:3; Luke 7:33–34, 1:15; John 8:48–52; Mark 2:7; Matthew 3:4).
When Jesus hung parched on the cross, Roman soldiers offered him fermented wine mingled with myrrh. But as soon as Jesus tasted it and recognized it was fermented, He refused it. If Jesus refused this beverage even as His body was tormented with extraordinary thirst, why would He have drank wine normally (Matthew 27:34)? (And more to the point, why then should we?)
Alcohol:
The Bible Hall of Shame
The first reference to wine is found in Genesis when Noah, after the flood, created the original fermented grape juice. “Then he drank of the wine and was drunk, and became uncovered in his tent” (Genesis 9:21). The sad record is that Noah drank and stumbled around naked and shamefully exposed himself to his sons. This first experiment with a new drug ended with a scathing curse falling on Noah’s posterity.
Lot also drank, and he was therefore easily seduced into having incestuous relations with his daughters. “So they made their father drink wine that night. And the firstborn went in and lay with her father, and he did not know when she lay down or when she arose” (Genesis 19:33). The offspring of this relationship became the nations of Moab and Ammon, the mortal enemies of God’s people. And there is no shortage of evidence today that alcohol often leads to sexual immorality—such as adultery, rape, and incest.
Then there is the infamous experience when the children of Israel drank alcohol, stripped themselves naked and worshiped a golden calf (Exodus 32:6, 25). This fermented “church social” ended in a horrible massacre.
Amnon, another drinker and the son of David, raped his half-sister Tamar. Because of this incestuous act, he lost his life at the hands of his enraged brother while intoxicated (2 Samuel 13:28).
These are only a few examples. For more about the terrible repercussions involving alcohol in the Bible, look at 2 Samuel 13:28, Job 1:13–19. Truly, when one considers the Biblical record of fermented drink, you have to wonder why would any genuine Christian argue in its defense!
Fermented Wine Brings Woe
The word “woe” is not used commonly today in the English vernacular. The word means deep distress or misery—as from grief and/or wretchedness. The Bible is found using the word in many different places; not surprisingly, the use of alcohol is often the reason why the word is used!
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“Woe to those who rise early in the morning, That they may follow intoxicating
drink; Who continue until night, till wine inflames them!” (Isaiah 5:11).
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“Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who hath complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine.” (Proverbs 23:29–30).
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“Woe to him who gives drink to his neighbor, Pressing him to your bottle, Even to make him drunk, That you may look on his nakedness!” (Habakkuk 2:15).
Does the Christian need any more condemnation of alcohol consumption than this? A very safe and simple rule for these issues is: “When in doubt, leave it out!”
A Matter of Health
For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's” (1 Corinthians 6:20 KJV). From liver disease to ulcers to dementia, an almost endless list of health problems have been linked to the drinking of alcohol.
Alcohol (also grain alcohol) is a toxin that severely affects the central nervous system when ingested. Most people know that even moderate “social drinking” destroys brain cells.
If a person holds a small swig of whiskey in their mouth for about ten minutes, various parts of the interior of their mouth will become blistered. If you have them blindfolded and have them taste various beverages—for instance, water, vinegar, or milk—you will find that they are incapable of distinguishing one from another. This experiment proves to a certainty that alcohol is not only a violent irritant, but also a narcotic.
I think even the strongest advocate of alcohol must honestly admit that its consumption certainly does not glorify God in their body; instead, it slowly destroys body and mind, which is a clear violation of the Sixth Commandment.
Just as cigarette smoking is suicide on the installment plan, so is alcohol—which is a leading killer in the United States.
Also consider that there is an almost endless selection of other good things to drink that nourishes the body and mind. So why would any Christian want to gamble like this—risking their health, witness, family and eternal life to argue in defense of this destructive substance?
The Most Deadly Substance on Earth
Abraham Lincoln said, “Drink is a cancer in human society, eating out its vitals and threatening its destruction.” So much devastation is caused by alcohol in our community, on the roads and in homes, that this is hardly a bold or surprising statement. Indeed, even if the Bible were silent on the subject, the object lessons of devastation from a thousand years of history would still be crystal clear. But the scriptures say plenty.
“Who hath woe? who hath sorrow? who hath contentions? who hath babbling? who hath wounds without cause? who hath redness of eyes? Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper. Your eyes will see strange things, And your heart will utter perverse things. Yes, you will be like one who lies down in the midst of the sea, Or like one who lies at the top of the mast, saying: ‘They have struck me, but I was not hurt; They have beaten me, but I did not feel it. When shall I awake, that I may seek another drink?’” (Proverb 23:29–35).
And Jeremiah said God would make “bottles of wine” freely available to destroy the nation (Jeremiah 13:12–15). How true is this in our own country—with advertising directed at our youngest and most vulnerable citizens?
Is it a wonder that with a nation consumed by the false merriment of alcohol, it encourages consumption even to our youngest? There is strong evidence supporting widespread alcohol use and the surge of crime committed by young adults—and even children. (Did you know there are 3.3 million problem drinkers in America's high schools alone?)
Micah also warned of lying and false prophets who condone wine and strong drink (Micah 2:11).
Today, they still teach “moderation” with alcohol, but history has shown that moderation with an addictive drug is impossible.
An Issue of Love
It is good neither to eat meat nor drink wine nor do anything by which your brother stumbles or is offended or is made weak” (Romans 14:21). Because one out of seven people who drink wine will become problem drinkers or alcoholics, how can a Christian support an industry that encourages more people to stumble than any other legal substance?
According to Zig Ziglar, authorities know that approximately one in sixteen people who ever take a social drink will become an alcoholic! Would you even step one foot on an airplane if you knew there was a one in 16 chance that it would crash and end your life? (Actually, the odds for a commercial airliner crashing are closer to one in a million—but even with those odds some people will not fly. Yet many of these same people will take a drink!)
Consider this other well-known fact: In the next 24 hours, alcohol will be responsible for nearly half of all…
* …the homicides.
* …the people who will die on the highway.
* …the people who will be admitted to the hospital.
* …the people who will be incarcerated in jail or prison.
* …the people who will be arrested for domestic violence.
* …the people who will be born with birth defects.
In addition, alcohol deserves a mention for being responsible for a quarter of all suicides.
It’s clear enough from these appalling statistics that any clear thinking citizen, especially a Christian, would feel profound conviction to avoid a drug that accounts for a veritable tidal wave of misery to every culture it touches. If we truly love our brother and God, how can we defend drinking alcohol in any degree? Paul said he would neither eat flesh or drink wine or do anything that caused offense to a brother (Romans 14:21). With so many alcoholics struggling to be saved from their addictions, we must never cause them to stumble again by being even slightly inconsistent in our example.
Inviting Temptation
Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
It is also a well-documented fact that drinking even the smallest quantity of alcohol impairs reactions and weakens normal inhibitions.
Put simply: It lowers a Christian’s resolve to resist temptation. Why would any Christian want to make it easier for the devil to snare them? Many men and women have awaken after a night baptized by a few glasses of wine or bottles of beer to discover they have violated the Seventh Commandment and forever scarred their lives and reputations.
This is why Peter charges us to be “sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The devil is already bent on getting us! Let’s not make it any easier for him by diluting with alcohol our God-given resistance!
Remember, even when Jesus was hanging on the cross, with acute thirst, He refused to drink the wine they offered Him. “They gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He has tasted it, He would not drink” (Matthew 27:34). With the redemption of the planet hanging in the balance, He would not risk His judgment being impaired by receiving even a mouthful of wine, which might have made His suffering for us a little more bearable. Does He expect less of us?
Tarnished Testimonies
The great Canadian physician Sir William Osler was lecturing one day on alcohol. “Is it true,” asked a student, “that alcohol makes people do some things better?”
“No,” replied Sir William. “It just makes them less ashamed of doing them badly.”
Christians who drink alcohol have tarnished their testimonies to the outside world—as well as to those in the church. And the ones who are hurt the most by these compromised testimonies are the children.
Surely, it must be confusing to children to see their mothers or fathers praying—and then have a few beers. Jesus condemned this hypocrisy with the very strongest language: “But whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to sin, it would be better for him if a millstone were hung around his neck, and he were drowned in the depth of the sea” (Matthew 18:6).
An anxious father approached his pastor and said, “Preacher, talk to my boy about drinking. He came home last night and fell sprawling on the floor—too drunk to get up. His mother cried the rest of the night.”
“Why don't you talk to your own boy yourself?” the preacher questioned.
But the father said, “Pastor, I can't talk to my son about it, because I am to blame. I wanted him to be a man, so I gave him his first glass of liquor. I didn't dream that he'd ever become a drunkard. Please speak to my boy. I can't talk to him.”
It is a sad fact that all over this nation many fathers and mothers are re-living this exact same scenario.
We are commanded to “Come out from among them And be separate…. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you” (2 Corinthians 6:17). But when a Christian begins to drink alcohol, they show that they are not separated from worldly things.
Many Christians then wonder why God does not use them more to do great things. God will not use a compromised Christian for any great work. God only uses clean vessels for such amazing endeavors.
Wine on the Day of Pentecost
On Pentecost, when the disciples were filled with the Holy Spirit, onlookers said, “These men are drunk with new wine” (Acts 2:13). The Greek word here is gleukos, which was either new unfermented wine or “must,” a sweet boiled non-alcoholic grape juice. These onlookers were mocking the devoted disciples by saying, “They are drunk on grape juice.” This indicates that the disciples were known for their abstinence of alcohol! How is it that we should not follow their pointed examples?
A Little for the Stomach?
Paul also tells Timothy to “No longer drink only water, but use a little wine for your stomach's sake and your frequent infirmities” (1 Timothy 5:23). It is assumed by many that the wine Paul recommends to Timothy is alcoholic. Yet this is a false assumption for several reasons: First, the word oinos is used, and as we’ve already learned, it can denote either fermented or unfermented grape juice. In addition, there are historical references attesting to the use of unfermented wine for medicinal purposes in the ancient world. For example, Athenaeus (AD 280) counsels to use unfermented grape juice for stomach disorders.
Timothy must also have been living as a Nazarite, drinking only water. Paul was telling him to use a little grape juice, which has a very soothing effect on the body—indicating that Timothy abstained and needed to be urged to take even a little new wine. Drinking fermented wine can contribute to stomach ulcers. Paul would never recommend old wine for stomach therapy.
Earlier in the same epistle, Paul instructs Timothy that bishops were to be abstinent (nephalion) (1 Timothy 3:2–3). The apostle would not have encouraged Timothy to drink alcoholic beverages when he had, earlier in the same letter, forbidden their use by church leaders (1 Timothy 3:8), which leads us into the next topic.
Other Medicinal Use
Give strong drink unto him that is ready to perish, and wine unto those that be of heavy hearts” (Proverbs 31:6–7). This text addresses those who are “perishing” (obed) and those in “bitter distress” (marei naphesh). Both terms in Hebrew denote a desperate, hopeless situation. In other words, this is describing a situation in which a person is dying in painful agony. This was practiced by the Jews, and we find that “wine mingled with myrrh” (Mark 15:23) was offered to Christ on the cross, but He refused to take it. This passage, while not approving of the general use of alcohol, does provide for the medicinal use of alcohol as a narcotic in the specific situation of those who are in terminal misery.
Moderate Drinking
Likewise must the deacons be grave, not double-tongue, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre” (1 Timothy 3:8 RSV).
While on the surface this verse appears to tolerate drinking in moderation, we must remember the biblical context that God approves of the moderate use of those things that are good, and abstaining entirely from those things that are bad. With this understanding, the only logical conclusion is that Paul is admonishing deacons to be moderate in partaking of the good, unfermented wine. Moderation in good things is supported by several Bible passages. Honey, a healthful, natural food is also to be taken in moderation: “It is not good to eat much honey” (Proverbs 25:27).
Gluttony, be it drinking or eating, even with good things to excess is thoroughly condemned in the Bible (Deuteronomy 21:20; Proverbs 23:21), and Jesus describes gluttony as one of the primary sins of the people destroyed by the flood (Matthew 24:38). Eating and drinking to excess was common throughout the Roman Empire. We must further remember that one of the duties of deacons was to visit the homes of the believers. As is common today, visitors were offered grape juice to drink. Deacons were to show their moderation in drinking grape juice so that the charge of gluttony would not be brought upon Christians. Therefore, the most plausible interpretation of this verse is that Paul was forbidding deacons from drinking unfermented grape juice to excess.
When Paul says “Be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess, but be filled with the spirit,” some have thought this verse says just don’t drink too much. But the word excess in Greek is asotia, which is translated as riot and riotous living (Ephesians 5:18, 1 Peter 4:4, Luke 15:13). Darby’s version translates it this way: “And be not drunk with wine, in which is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18). We are called to be sacred vessels filled with God’s Spirit.
A Nation of Priests and Kings
Another powerful argument for modern Christians to abstain from alcohol is our royal and religious spiritual heritage. Considering the effect of alcohol and the woes, as the Bible says, it brings to those who have used it in the past, the following verses surely have a more powerful affect on our hearts:
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Exodus 19:6 — “And you shall be to Me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation.”
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1 Peter 2:9 — “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people.”
And how has alcohol affected those who were a part of this royal priesthood? Consider the following:
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Leviticus 10:9, 19 — “Do not drink wine or intoxicating drink, you, nor your sons with you, when you go into the tabernacle of meeting, lest you die. It shall be a statute forever throughout your generations, that you may distinguish between holy and unholy, and between unclean and clean.”
*
Proverbs 31:4 — “It is not for kings, O Lemuel, It is not for kings to drink wine, Nor for princes intoxicating drink.”
King Benhadad lost a major battle because his judgment was impaired by fermented wine. “But Benhadad was drinking himself drunk in the pavilions, he and the kings, the thirty and two kings that helped him” (1 Kings 20:16). He slurred out the ridiculous order: “If they have come out for peace, take them alive; and if they have come out for war, take them alive” (1 Kings 20:18). And then there is Belshazzar, king of Babylon, who was slain in his last drunken exploit—pouring fermented wine into the sacred cups from the temple of God (Daniel 5:2-5).
We are called to be sacred vessels filled with Gods Spirit. “And be not drunk with wine, in which is debauchery; but be filled with the Spirit” (Ephesians 5:18 DNT). Again, could the Bible more clear?
Summary
It is sobering to realize that even 4,300 years later, the sin of Noah is still wrecking families today. Have we learned nothing? Moderate drinking is not God's answer—abstinence is. Every alcoholic begins his or her downward path with a “moderate” drink. The church should never condone or allow that first step by teaching it’s permissible to drink a little wine. Rather, the church should uphold the clear position of the Word of God, knowing that Jesus is the Word made flesh and come to dwell among us.
God’s issue with alcohol is clear, and it always has been. Alcohol is unholy and unclean. Partaking in the worldly drink can only compromise God’s high standards.
If you have a problem with drinking, I invite you to contact Amazing Facts and request our free literature concerning alcohol and the Christian. We have seen thousands freed from alcohol and other addiction by the power of God!
“Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed” (John 8:36).
Maret 30, 2010
The Christian and Alcohol
by Gillian Bethel
How would you like a vacation on a palm-fringed tropical island right now? Would it remove your stress? Temporarily, no doubt, but the stress would be back. More practical for most of us would be an evening spent in a relaxed setting, doing something we enjoy. But for how long would that relieve our stress? When it comes to lasting stress management, we definitely need something beyond quick fixes.
A wealth of websites, articles, and books already exist to help us conquer stress. But often they treat stress like a virus that can be isolated and remedied. This booklet is different in two ways: It looks at stress as part of a life story, and it shows how God intervenes in the life and not just in the stress.
Each one of us is unique, and our personal stress levels depend on how we react to all the events of our lives. Because stressors—the triggers of stress—are interwoven with the fabric of our daily experience, true stress management requires a change in the way we relate to life as a whole.
Christianity holds the key to managing this stress. But God is interested in doing more for us than just helping us handle stressors. He wants to make our entire experience in life glow as a result of our knowing Him. He wants to fill our emptiness and be our continual source of guidance, strength, and joy; as well as a place of refuge when things get tough. Yet God does not force anything on us. He gently works to attract us to Him, and we may not feel a need for His help until our stress level becomes overwhelming. In this way at least, stress can be a blessing.
The main purpose of this booklet is to increase your awareness of how God works in the background of our lives by showing you one real-life story of stress, and also to help you realize just how much stress management (and more) He wants to make available to you. I want to share the story about stress that I know best—my own—in the hope that it will encourage you as your life story unfolds.
Chapter 1
SURPRISED BY JOY
First, let’s look at a few facts about stress: Certain stressors, from lack of sleep to noise and even heat, are biologically threatening to our physical functioning.
Other stressors (by far the majority) are often only threatening because we consciously or unconsciously perceive them to be threatening. These might range from the loss of a loved one to running out of gas. They also include work overload, time pressures, poor social relationships, and constant interruptions.
Our resulting reaction to these stressors is called the “fight-or-flight” response. This instinctual reaction enables us to rise to the occasion, such as performing unusual feats of endurance and strength. However, it is ideally suited to handling only short-term challenges and emergencies.
So when a particular stressor or series of them requiring a “flight or fight” response is continuous for months or years because of our life situation, the body and mind sustain strain and ultimately injury unless some other remedy is found to handle the stress.
The symptoms of a long-term “fight-or-flight” stress response will vary from person to person according to their weaker areas in personal health. (You can check for stress symptoms in the appendix.) These “red flags” tell us that we are heading for a complete breakdown in mental and/or physical health unless we reduce the impact of, or eliminate altogether, the stressor.
Yet stressors often cannot be easily isolated. Stress is woven into our lives, and this is not a book designed to show you how to handle a particular kind or group of stressors. Instead, by looking at a life story, you will better understand both how stress works generally on you over time, and how God intervenes, perhaps even using the stress itself to show you can win the battle to overcome it.
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As a teenager in England, my stress developed from having unreachable goals. I wanted to look like a fashion model, but I didn’t. I wanted to be popular, but I was shy. I had a huge inferiority complex, and I agonized over not measuring up to other people.
Still, at 18 I was full of hope and had many dreams as I started out on my own at college. Hungry for the missing something in my life, I determined to find it in the next few years. But I was naive about this search, and always looking for fun, I was soon following my roommate and her friends into a life of partying. I also started taking drugs, hoping they might help me discover spiritual powers within myself. But even as I began to set this mistaken course in my search, I had a strange experience.
Among the whirlwind of new acquaintances and experiences in those first few weeks, I met Martin. Good looking and always smiling, he spoke with shining eyes about Jesus. My roommate emphatically warned me that he was in the “God Squad,” and spoke scornfully of the campus Christians, but I was intrigued with his happy spirit.
One evening, a throbbing headache kept me home and gave me some time to reflect. Listening to music and curled up in bed, I began to wonder why Martin found Christianity so exciting. Although I had been educated in Christian schools, I never really understood the belief system and thought of the religion as only a collection of myths. “What about Martin’s Jesus?” I mused. “Was he a myth or a real historical person?”
Suddenly, out of nowhere, a voice said, “Yes!”
The answer was as decisive as it was shocking, and in that moment I was completely certain Jesus was real. An incredible joy flooded into me! I was totally amazed.
Despite this wonderful feeling, I felt too afraid of my roommate’s ridicule to talk about it with her. Furthermore, I made a huge mistake by not going to Martin to ask him about the experience. Shyness held me back, and the knowledge of how to cope with that conviction was lost to me. Without guidance from Martin or other Christians, I began hoping that something more exciting than regular Christianity was behind my experience, even wondering if that night I had received a telepathic message from extraterrestrials.
I missed finding my heart’s desire in the first weeks of college by not following that message to thefeet of Jesus. Of course, I never realized that the path I was following was going to lead to all the stress of disappointment, emptiness, frustration, and disillusionment. I had in my grasp all the enjoyment and enlightenment that I would be seeking for years, but it slipped through the cracks. With compassion, Jesus had pointed me in a different direction in an attempt to save me from stress and regret. If I only had followed it right then, He would have helped me so much in my college years. But I didn’t—and I continued to struggle with stress without Him.
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In hindsight, I now see that Jesus reached to me many times, drawing me to Him continually, even during my childhood. Sometimes it was through thought impressions, sometimes through music or books, sometimes through someone’s words or actions. He never stopped speaking to me or guiding my life so that whatever turn I took, I bumped into Him. At times I even responded, though only partially. I usually just pushed Him away. But He never gave up.
Am I unique? No! Jesus wants to save all of us from the stress we bring on ourselves. He has said, “I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3). He is working behind the scenes in all of our lives, and there isn’t a single person who He isn’t patiently, lovingly trying to reach. Most of the time we don’t pay any attention. And Jesus, a respecter of free choice, will never forcibly stop us from making mistakes and taking wrong turns. Yet His love for us is steady and inalienable.
In your present situation, Jesus is with you. He is actively involved in your very existence moment by moment, although you may not yet perceive it. “He is not far from every one of us, for in Him we live and move and have our being” (Acts 17:28). You can even speak to Him at any time, and He will hear and answer you. You might not necessarily hear a voice, but you will recognize the answer if you look for it.
Just as He had a better plan for me if I had turned to Him, so He has one for you. He promises, “Call unto me, and I will answer Thee, and show thee great and mighty things which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3).
Chapter 2
THE SLIPPERY SLOPE
Although I missed the opportunity to find the source of that joy I experienced that evening, I pursued it relentlessly for the next three years. I sometimes turned to drugs, but whatever enjoyment they gave me evaporated when I came down from a “high.” I also tried to unearth inner powers of telepathy and ESP without results, and I tampered with various forms of meditation. All the while, my personal life staggered into an even worse mess every step I took.
Other journeys into religion brought me close to that joyful feeling again, like studying Hinduism and scouring the writing of mystics, yet it remained ever elusive. Though they stirred my imagination, I always sensed their emptiness—the way to enlightenment seemed too hard. During all this disappointment, I neglected my studies as I tried to fit in with the crowd and find a fulfilling relationship. It was all in vain. Gradually, the stress of depression from unfulfilled hopes became a constant feature of my life. I wondered if life was even worth living.
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Sometimes we have to hit bottom before we realize we can’t really win. We fight stress in our own strength, but we gradually run out of energy using up our “flight-or-fight” resources. The human body is made to withstand a barrage of multiple stressors, but it eventually succumbs to physical and mental ailments, even disease, if the stress goes unrelieved for too long. At some point, we decide we just can’t beat the problem. That’s when God can step in. If we already know Him, we can ask Him to take over the situation. But if we don’t, and the time is right, He just may do it anyway! That’s what happened to me.
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Life was continuously stressful. I was disillusioned with partying, and I had failed in my spiritual quest. I even lost my boyfriend. As my three-year college program came to a close, I realized I was on the verge of failing and making a complete mess of my life. I had to make a change.
Having lost so much, I started thinking of my parents and their dreams for me. They had sacrificed for years to give me an education, so I devoted myself to turning around two-and-a-half wasted years. Fortunately, everything hung on a couple of major projects and final exams—it was worth the try.
Amazingly, my stress was tapered when I at last gave up on the social and spiritual struggles. And as I began to focus on someone else’s need, my parents’, and doing what I knew to be right, God began rearranging my life completely. It was nothing short of a miracle.
By God’s grace, I received my degree in Social Anthropology. Although I had been accepted many months before into graduate training as a social worker, I received a letter stating funding for that training was no longer available. I shuddered at the thought of more studying as the college’s anthropology department recruited graduates for research positions, but the department head practically begged me to take an amazing opportunity. Even though I had only wanted a job reference when I went to see him, he surprised me with a fully funded graduate research project in the Caribbean.
Part of what’s so amazing is God’s timing. It was unheard of to just walk into the department head’s office without an appointment, and it was also the very last afternoon before the funding for this project would have been given back to the payee!
An all-expense paid trip to a tropical destination was too tempting to turn down. The past year had seen an amazing turnaround—from near college failure to a graduate dream assignment in the West Indies! Of course, I simply thought this was just a lucky series of events—I never saw the Divine Hand until later. But I did realize that Someone was looking after me.
One evening, before my final exams, I had been studying late in the college library. I was very tired and gathered my belongings to go home. It was a wet and windy night, and I had to ride several miles on my little
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Yes! Someone, in fact, did. It was yet another intervention by the One in whom I unknowingly lived, moved, and had my being.
If your stress seems overwhelming and you feel like giving up, you are in just the right place for God to do something wonderful in your life. “He healeth the broken in heart and bindeth up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3). Give your situation to Him, even if you don’t know Him yet. I didn’t even know enough to do that, but I did give up my own attempts to run my life in a vain attempt to find fulfillment. And God had much more in store than I could have ever found on my own! “I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me and heard my cry. He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock and established my goings” (Psalm 40: 1, 2). Jesus takes us where we are. He can pick us up out of the deepest hole—the most discouraging circumstances. “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh: is there anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 31:26). He can give us something much better than we could ever find for ourselves.
Jesus never forces His plans on us. Instead, He invites us to respond, even in the smallest way, so He can take us another step. “O Lord thou hast searched me and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O Lord, thou knowest it altogether. Thou hast beset me behind and before and laid thine hand upon me” (Psalm 139:1–5).
Chapter 3
THE WONDERFUL BOOK
Ah! The Caribbean. Tropical beaches, azure waters! I thought surely doing research there would be nothing less than a paid vacation.
But it certainly wasn’t …
I had greatly underestimated the culture shock, homesickness, and social isolation I would feel. Worse, the island people did not want to be studied by an aspiring anthropologist. They even dubbed me “the spy” and proceeded to treat me like one. My research stalled because it took a long time just to understand their dialect. Even more, I was under constant scrutiny on the tiny island—and it wasn’t respectable for a woman to smoke, drink, or party. All my usual “crutches” were denied me if I wanted to be accepted.
College stress was nothing compared to this. Here my back was completely against the wall. The only escape would be paying back the research grant and heading home, but that would greatly disappoint my parents who were thrilled with my academic achievement.
I was trapped. The stress of facing a situation that I could neither control nor cope with was a daily experience for months. My stress symptoms multiplied. Yet I had no choice but to persevere, and eventually my research made progress. Part of that research meant attending church. (God surely must have a sense of humor!) I had to understand the island people’s religious beliefs, and much of the women’s social life focused around their churches.
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To fit in, I bought a Bible to carry to church like everyone else. For weeks, that was all I did with it. But one day, I lay down on my bed and opened the Book. It opened to Isaiah 40, and I read until I came to this part:
“Have ye not known? Have ye not heard?
Hath it not been told you from the
beginning? Have ye not understood from
the foundations of the earth? It is He
that sitteth upon the circle of the earth,
and the inhabitants thereof are as grass-
hoppers … that bringeth the princes
to nothing; he maketh the judges of the
earth as vanity.”
It was a kind but chiding voice speaking to me. “Haven’t you known all along that I was real?” The lights went on! Of course! The place I should have been looking for something spiritual was the Bible. I never did—why had I thought it was so boring?
From that moment, I started reading the Bible seriously. I didn’t understand everything, but it fed my soul. I found verses that were like notes from a friend. A special favorite was Isaiah 41:10: “Fear thou not for I am with thee, be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” This helped when I felt in great need of strength but had nowhere else to turn for it.
“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27). It was this peace amid all the stress that I really longed for. “These things I have spoken unto you that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). With all the challenges I was having, this one was really encouraging!
Even though I didn’t completely understand these verses, they were so comforting that I wrote them on cards and stuck them on my mirror. I read them often, and eventually memorized them. When I found myself in stressful situations, thinking about them brought peace to me in a way I considered magical. I had never read a book that kept on “speaking” to me like the Bible did.
Many people avoid the Bible, thinking it is just too hard to understand, if not simply old fashioned. It might well be difficult to grasp sometimes, but it is surprisingly up-to-date for the situations in your life. Why? Because it speaks to human needs.
And it’s actually not hard to understand the parts that speak to your need! These passages are loud and clear—and wonderfully personal. If you’re not in the habit of reading the Bible, I encourage you to begin. Start in Psalms, or the Gospel of John, or wherever you feel led to look. You don’t have to start in Genesis, and you don’t need to worry about the things you don’t understand. Just read until you find something that “jumps out” at you—and cherish it as God Himself speaking to you.
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While on the island, it was more than just the Bible that helped me cope with stressors. Although I did not realize it then, my changed lifestyle, though forced, was excellent for stress management.
At college, I went to bed late, ate irregularly, and drank endless cups of coffee. I smoked and binged on
But on the island, I was out in the sun and fresh air. I walked everywhere. I went to bed early, ate regular meals and had little or no coffee,
Years later while working at a Lifestyle Center as a stress counselor, I found that exercise, rest, and a good diet often relieved the clients’ stress before we even sat down to discuss their crisis. Sometimes a daily walk in the fresh air, more rest and lots of fruit and vegetables—rather than the foods full of salt, sugar, oil, and caffeine we crave—are all it takes to help us see a way through the stress. However, as simple as it sounds, we still need God’s power to make changes. But all we need to do is ask Him for it.
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Something else happened to me during my research. I saw something in people’s lives that I didn’t have but very much wanted. They seemed so happy and stress free.
I found that when I spoke to them, they talked about Jesus as if He was their next-door neighbor. They also always spoke encouragingly. In fact, they reminded me of Martin, the Christian man I had met in college but never approached to find answers.
But this time I didn’t make the same mistake. I began to search again, but now within Christianity. I wanted to find out what it was really about, not for anthropology fieldwork, but for my soul.
God was working vigorously in my life, stirring me up to feel in need of Him. He spoke to me through the Bible, cleared my mind through lifestyle, and positioned me so that I would finally be able to connect with Him and find that longed-for joy. “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart. And I will be found of you, saith the Lord” (Jeremiah 29:13, 14).
God works in each person’s life differently. He doesn’t necessarily place us in worse stress to help us realize we need Him, but as
Of course, He does this with great care and concern. We are truly safe in His hands only, and He won’t allow us to be destroyed by the experience. “The Lord hath appeared of old unto me, saying, Yea, I have loved thee with an everlasting love: therefore with loving-kindness have I drawn thee” (Jeremiah 31:3).
Our temptation might be to run. In fact, I nearly accepted an invitation to drop the fieldwork and sail to the Pacific Islands with a group of young people. But if we run from His lovingly crafted guidance, we will miss God’s best for us.
Yet even then, He will not give up on us. But it’s important not to take the easy way out unless we perceive His guidance and timing in that direction. He has something better in the end—His rest.
“Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28–30).
Chapter 4
LIFE MORE ABUNDANT
Early on in my fieldwork, I was invited to a church book sale. I felt obligated, so I purchased a copy of John Bunyan’s Pilgrim’s Progress. I remembered listening to it long ago at elementary school, but I doubted I would ever read it. So I left it on my bookshelf to collect dust.
A year went by. I was working as a part-time teacher to try to shake off the “spy” image, and I was beginning to understand the culture quite well. Life as an anthropologist was still difficult and challenging, but the Bible was bringing an increasing glow into my life as I tried to better understand Christianity.
Then one weekend, grounded with a low-grade fever, I noticed Pilgrim’s Progress sitting idly on my bookshelf. I picked it up thinking I’d read just a little, but I ended up reading it cover to cover in just two days. Amazingly, the book had answers to almost allof my questions about Christianity. It taught me what it really meant to take Jesus as my Savior.
When I finished it, I knelt down and asked Jesus to take my whole life into His hands. I begged for His forgiveness and asked Him to make me clean and new. That wonderful joy I felt that night in college and had longed for came flooding back—this time to stay.
Now Jesus was not just someone I knew about, but a living person whom I admired and loved. Even better, I knew that He loved me more. I could hardly believe it! At last, I had found the “something” that had been missing all my life, and it was a wonderful “Someone.”
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For a long time, I had thought turning my life over to God for His guidance was a scary thing to do. I imagined He would force me to do things I didn’t want, like be a missionary to somewhere outlandish.
Of course, I didn’t know Him well enough then, nor did I understand the real meaning of the Christian life. I have learned that God lets us “try Him out” for as long as it takes to know to trust and love Him. By the time we are ready to fully commit our lives to Him, we want to do it, knowing by experience that it is the happiest way to live. We do it knowing that we aren’t puppets, that He treats our power of choice with the utmost respect. He does ask us to do specific things and make sacrifices, but He also gives us the willingness or desire to do them—and the ability too! We are always free to say “no,” and to leave His service. The struggle then for a Christian is to actively stay close to Him.
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My life was transformed! I woke each morning remembering that Jesus was real, and I talked with Him about the day ahead, asking for strength and guidance. There was so much joy in hearing Him “speak” through prayer and Bible reading or simply in the way He worked things out through the day. “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
Now when stress came up, I could talk to Him about it and find help in the Bible. I would also pray for the people involved. Many people said they could see in my face that something good had happened to me.
I even experienced God’s
I felt in awe of this ability—this gift from Jesus. For some people, it’s a much harder battle to stop smoking, but I have seen so many people delivered from addictions that I know there is nothing too hard for God. It was as if He was saying to me, “You won’t need these anymore; I will help you cope from now on.” “Behold, I am the Lord, the God of all flesh. Is there anything too hard for me?” (Jeremiah 32:27).
In addition to God’s power over bad habits, I saw more clearly how He protected and guided me in stressful situations. Before I returned to England, a friend and I decided to travel in South America. We took overnight bus trips to save hotel expenses, but we soon found that bus travel wasn’t very predictable. Our first bus was to take us overnight from Caracas, Venezuela, to Bogota, Columbia, but on the way highway repair on one mountain pass stopped the bus in its tracks. A
Of course, we had no idea where we were and couldn’t speak enough Spanish to ask for help. But suddenly a young man approached us and spoke to us in English! He asked if we needed help, and we gratefully requested help in finding a hotel. He walked with us to a clean, cheap hotel and said goodbye.
Before, I would have thought this young man was just a happy coincidence. But now I often wonder if God in His mercy sent an angel in disguise to help two very vulnerable girls lost on the streets of a strange city, late at night. Certainly He sent us help just when we needed it. “Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God” (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4). When I decided to give my life to Jesus, I had no idea how it would be affected. All I really knew was that I wanted to walk on His path for me. As time went by, I found I had gained a friend who was so very present with me that I could turn to Him at any moment for strength, guidance in a decision, help in a struggle, or anything else I needed. “Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fullness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore” (Psalm 16:11).
And between those times of struggle, I could praise Him for all the good things in my life, and talk to Him about other people and their needs. I also realized that I could help Him bring joy to others, and one of the greatest pleasures of life was to be His co-worker, helping others as I had been helped.
The Bible continued to become dearer and dearer. It was now a book about someone I knew, and it was full of messages from Him to me. I continued to memorize Bible verses and found them powerful weapons against stress. There seemed to be a promise for whatever challenge I faced! “And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free” (John 8:32).
More than that, I learned to simply give stressful situations over to Him instead of trying to handle them by myself. It saved so much worry! It was amazing how difficulties resolved with God’s intervention. So often He worked things out “exceeding abundantly above all we can ask or think,” and I would just marvel! (Ephesians 3:20).
“I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” (John 10:10).
Chapter 5
DON’T CHRISTIANS HAVE PROBLEMS WITH STRESS?
If knowing God and giving Him our life is the ultimate answer to stress, does it mean that our stress problems are over? Well, it depends!
Obviously, Christians still face stressors, yet they have the means to meet and overcome them in God’s power—the most powerful force possible! The Bible even portrays Jesus’ followers cheerfully facing imprisonment or death. Surely we should be able to handle a difficult work situation or an obnoxious person!
While stressors can still stimulate our natural God-given “fight or flight” response, it can now be directed to fleeing to the refuge of prayer and the grace of God’s promises. God will show us how to fight in His way and in His strength. He promises, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:13).
With God, there is always hope. Even if you find yourself under a continuous barrage of stressors, God’s comfort and strength will let you enjoy regular relief from the stress response that breaks down your mental and physical health. If this is not happening in your life, you are missing out on one of God’s greatest promises to you.
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Here are some questions to ask yourself:
1. Am I turning this over to God and trusting Him, or am I worrying about it?
2. Am I allowing God to work out His will, or am I doing my own will?
3. Am I dwelling on negative thoughts, or am I asking Jesus to take them away?
4. Am I counting my blessings, or am I wanting more and more?
5. Am I looking for and claiming Bible promises for this situation, or am I hiding from truth?
6. Am I spending quality time with Jesus, or am I so tired and overloaded that I miss out? 7. Am I taking care of my health by eating healthfully, drinking plenty of water, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly?
Some time ago, my husband and I experienced several stressful months during which he had no regular job. We live in a rural area by choice, and jobs are often not very plentiful. As time passed and our financial situation looked bleaker, it was a real temptation to worry. For our daughter’s sake, we wanted to stay in our beautiful country setting, where she has good friends and an ideal environment.
As time passed, I found myself falling down on the wrong side of nearly all of these questions, so I was experiencing a lot of stress. I had to ask for the Lord’s forgiveness, and His power to make the necessary changes in my heart and life. As I prayed, my peace of mind was restored.
The Lord will often remind us of the many ways He has already taken care of us in the past, so in complete confidence, we must give the situation to Him to work out. Eventually, work came to my husband from an unexpected quarter, as things often do under the Lord’s watch, with the added blessing of giving him a much-needed change of pace. God is so good!
Stressors can come as a vicious cycle in which one problem leads to another, creating intense stress and eventually a breakdown in physical and mental health. Most of the time when a bad situation comes up, we strive in vain for the outcome that we want. In this process, we get tired and frustrated so that even more things go wrong, and in turn we are more likely to dwell on negative thoughts—the downward path begins. We sleep poorly and start the day late, without spending quality time in Bible study and prayer. We worry about the situation until we begin to experience stress symptoms and may ultimately become sick or depressed.
But Jesus is very tender and merciful. “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9). He doesn’t leave us to spiral downwards into despair but reaches to us in every way He can, reminding us that He is more than able to handle things for us if we ask Him. “He hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me … Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:5, 6, 8).
Our part is simply to trust and obey. If we take time to remind ourselves of all His promises to us in Scripture, things fall back into their true
We need to make the well-known prayer our own: “God, help me to remember that nothing is going to happen to me today that you and I can’t handle together.” That is the bottom line in stress management.
Appendix
SYMPTOMS OF STRESS
Symptoms resulting from continuous, unmanaged stress vary according to each individual, but the more of the symptoms listed here you experience, the more likely you are to be suffering from excessive stress, which may eventually contribute to major illness or a mental breakdown if unchecked.
If you find yourself experiencing one or more of these symptoms, I encourage you to seek help. Your first stop should be on your knees, and the second should be found in the Bible. After that, listen for God’s will in your life, look for the answer, and act accordingly.
• Physical
Frequent nervous “tics” or muscle spasms
Frequent infections and viruses
Dry mouth
Stiffness, tension, and pain of neck, back, and joints
Frequent abdominal pain
Frequent indigestion, diarrhea, or constipation
Itchy skin
Arms crossed or fists clenched while conversing
Clutching the steering wheel in
Easily startled Frequent headaches
Frequent insomnia, fatigue, loss of appetite
• Psychological
Frequent feelings of panic and/or not being in control
Frequent depression for no apparent reason
Difficulty concentrating on the simplest tasks
Frequent impatience
Frequent forgetfulness
Sudden emotional outbursts and crying spells
Frequent worrying or feeling trapped by circumstances
Frequent mood swings
Frequent irritation over small difficulties
Routine tasks become nearly unbearable to accomplish
Frequent boredom and/or need for excitement/escapism
Increased use of coping mechanisms: alcohol, caffeinated drinks,
smoking, drug taking, eating, sleeping, etc.
