Stress

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LESSON 3

*January 8 - 14

Stress

SABBATH AFTERNOON

Read for This Week's Study: 1 Kings 17:2–4, 15, 16; 19:1, 2; Mark 6:31–34; Gal. 6:2 ; John 15:13.
Memory Text:

“ ‘Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest’ ” (Matthew 11:28, NIV).

Stress touches everyone. Demands at work, family crises, guilt, uncertainty about the future, dissatisfaction with the past—these all are hard enough. All this, along with the general events of life, can put enough pressure on people that it affects their physical and mental health. Researchers Thomas H. Holmes and Richard H. Rahe developed the social readjustment rating scale, which lists life events with corresponding stress values for each: the death of spouse—100; personal injury or illness—53; change in residence—20; etc. A person accumulating 200 or more points at any given time runs a 50 percent chance of becoming ill; someone accruing 300 or more will reach a point of crisis. Moderate amounts of stress are necessary to increase performance, but beyond a point stress becomes a health hazard. Jesus shows by precept and example that seeking God at a quiet time and place is the best remedy for life’s stresses (Mark 6:31). If we will allow Him to, the Lord will help us deal with the pressures that are such an inevitable part of life here.

*Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, January 15.