Stress: was stealing my life

Stress: was stealing my life

Before I ever got sick, I lived at a pace that felt completely normal to me.

Long days. Full schedule. Always something to do.

Working 10 to 12 hours a day wasn’t unusual. In fact, I took pride in it.

I liked being productive. I liked staying busy. I thought that’s what I was supposed to do.

I never stopped to consider what that pace might be doing to my body.

Then Everything Changed

When I got cancer, a lot of things had to change…but one of the biggest was something I didn’t expect.

I had to learn how to rest.

Not just sit down for a few minutes…but truly rest.

I remember the day I decided to turn off my alarm clock.

That may seem like a small thing, but for me, it was a big step.

For years, I had trained myself to get up, push through, and stay on schedule no matter how I felt.

Now I had to do the opposite.

I had to pay attention to my body… learn what it needed and find out what was hurting it.

Learning to Do What Felt Wrong

There were mornings I slept longer than I ever would have allowed before.

And at first, it felt wrong.

Unproductive. Out of routine.

But my body needed it.

It needed time to repair. I learned that it’s designed to repair while it’s sleeping. Time to recover. Time without constant pressure.

This was foreign territory and didn’t come naturally to me.

It was something I had to learn — a little reluctantly, I admit.

Stress Was a Bigger Factor Than I Realized

Looking back now, I can see something I didn’t fully understand at the time.

Stress wasn’t just part of my life.

It was affecting my body in ways I was learning were harmful. I simply hadn’t taken the time to notice. Living daily with stress, truly was my “normal.”

Stress and overworking impacts:

• sleep

• energy

• ability to heal

• immune system

You can be doing a lot of the right things…eating well, trying to take care of yourself…

but if your body is constantly under stress, it makes everything harder. And much riskier.

When you are in stress mode, whether you recognize it or not — maybe from pushing too hard, or carrying unresolved trauma or unforgiveness — your body releases toxic stress hormones 24/7 that depletes the immune system that's required to heal.

Healing wasn’t just about what I added to my life… it was also about what I needed to take away.

Pressure. Striving. Hurt. Disobedience. Constant motion.

But Let Me Say …

There wasn’t simply one thing that changed everything for me.

It wasn’t a particular supplement. It wasn’t just one decision or one adjustment.

It was learning to live differently. To bring my body and lifestyle back into agreement with

God’s design and His will. He had made me to live long, and had given me an immune system to help me do that.

But I had never learned to manage my own health — didn’t know I should or could.

Now I realize that each of us is responsible for our body and its well-being. Not the doctor.

The doctors works for you and me… if we choose to use them. But our health is still our responsibility to manage.

When I received a terminal cancer diagnosis, it was like being thrown into the deep end of the pool without knowing how to swim.

If I wanted to live, I not only needed to learn how to swim, I needed to become the best swimmer I could — fast. There was a lot to learn.

And I quickly learned that stress was a huge enemy at a time when I needed a strong immune system.

Where stress was concerned — it was important that I learn to:

• slow down

• stop overriding what my body was telling me

• give my body what it actually needed

• and address the hurt and trauma I had ignored

A Scripture That Became Real to Me

This verse took on a deeper meaning for me during that season:

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

— Matthew 11:28-30

I began to understand in a very real way —

When the body is not under constant strain… when there is calm instead of pressure…

there is life… and peace.

Not just emotionally… but physically too.

And spiritually I took more time in God’s Word. Spent more time meditating on spiritual truths. Gave the Holy Spirit time to communicate with me. And slowed down long enough to listen.

What I Would Say to You

If you’re used to pushing through like I was… if slowing down feels uncomfortable…

I understand that.

But I learned that the body heals best when we stop driving it so hard.

When we give it space and time to process and rest.

When we allow it to do what it was created to do.

When we come into agreement with God’s design — with our body, soul and spirit.

And take the time to listen for His direction.

I’d Love to Hear From You

I’m always interested in what others are experiencing.

Feel free to share your experience with stress and how you managed it in the comments.

Standing in faith with you,