How are we doing in keeping Christmas simple so far this season? If you’ve been hanging out with me here, or on social media, or on the podcast, we’ve been pondering ways how to keep Christmas simple this year. Likely for many of us, this is harder than we may have first realized. Because the world moves to a beat of a different drum. It tells us if we aren’t hurried or harried in this season, well, something must be wrong with us. Because this is the season to hustle and bustle, right? to make lists and check them twice? Wrong. This nonsense is just not true. We don’t have to live the way the rest of the world lives. Because you and I are too blessed to be stressed this season.
Or any season for that matter.
How do I know when I don’t know your circumstances? How can I write that when I may not know you so well? Well, I may not know you, but God knows you. He knows your circumstances. He sees you, cares about you, loves you, and blesses you. After all, He formed you in your mother’s womb.
God knows everything there is to know about you. And me.
And because of this truth alone, we are too blessed to be stressed.
I have read articles that told me this saying, “too blessed to be stressed” isn’t biblical. Others have said that saying is a lie. And yet others say it’s part of the “new age movement.” Well, I disagree. I look at Jesus in the Bible, and the word stressed never comes to mind when I’m reading about Him. He was always about His Father’s business. He was always about the business of eternally blessings others. And if the same power that was in Jesus (through the Holy Spirit) resides in His believers, why would we not be “too blessed to be stressed”? How can that not be so?
With God on our side in every single moment of every single day, we can’t help but be blessed.
But don’t take my word for it. I found a few Bible verses that speak to this truth that we are too blessed to be stressed. Here are a few of them:
God loves us, and is faithful. He gives us is new mercies every day.
The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”
Lamentations 3:22-24 NLT
God gives us everything we need.
You can be sure that God will take care of everything you need, his generosity exceeding even yours in the glory that pours from Jesus.
Philippians 4:19 MSG
God is OUR God, He strengthens us, helps us, and holds us up.
So don’t be afraid. I am here, with you; don’t be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, help you. I am here with My right hand to make right and to hold you up.
Isaiah 41:10 VOICE
God is our strength and our shield.
The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.
Psalm 28:7 NIV
God works all things together for our good.
And we know that God causes everything to work together[a] for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.
Romans 8:28 NLT
Friend, you and I are most certainly too blessed to be stressed.
And the thing is, I could keep listing verse after verse that plainly states how God continues to bless us. Now these blessings might be different than what the world considers blessings, because they don’t reference money, possessions, intellect, education, prestige, or social standing. Because maybe, just maybe, those things aren’t blessings in God’s eyes. They are in the world’s eyes, but maybe not in God’s eyes.
So, which blessings do we consider most valuable? Which blessings do we pursue? And which blessings are we grateful for?
This makes me think. Maybe I’ve focused too much on the wrong kind of blessings lately. The “blessings” of this world won’t last. But the blessings of God will last into eternity.
And this season, I can’t help but think of the ultimate blessing of all.
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6 NIV
Why is this the ultimate blessing of all? Because without this child born to us, this life would be all there is for you and me. There would be no promise or hope of a future life, of eternity with God. But because God sent His Son to be born of a virgin, to take our sins to the cross with Him, and to rise to knew life after death, we who believe in this reality, will forever be with God after this life is over.
That, my friend, is a best blessing of all.
So, yes, we are too blessed to be stressed this season.
Today let’s live like we are. Today let’s not allow this season to be swallowed up by stress. Let’s remember just how blessed we are. Not necessarily with what the world considers blessings, but with what God does.
This doesn’t mean we bury our heads in the sand. Nor does it mean we fail if we allow stress to sneak into our lives. Not at all. But we can learn to be aware of its ways and how to choose a different response. We do not have to respond with stress. So, if stress begins to rise today or in the days to come, it may help us to take a couple big breaths. Deep breath in, and exhale. Deep breath in, and exhale. Until we feel the stress decrease. We can ask God to remind us of just how blessed we are, and ask Him for His peace. And we can share His blessings with others. Doing so may remind someone else she is also too blessed to be stressed this season.
Find additional encouragement on this week’s Encouragement for Real Life podcast episode, 7 Helpful Ways to Enjoy a Stress-Free Season here.
I continue to pray for us in this season. May we keep our eyes fixed on the truth of this season and continue to keep Christmas simple. God is so good to us, isn’t He?
God bless you, friend.
Much love,
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