REALLIFE STUDY GROUP

"Got Stress"

ICEBREAKER: Name one thing that really stresses you out! (Traffic, bickering, loud noises, losing my keys, inability to sleep, running out of money, deadlines, yelling, car trouble, constipation, storms, politics, etc...)

INTRODUCTION: Stress can be both positive and negative. Everybody has some level of stress. The key is learning to cope with it effectively. Some people actually thrive on massive amounts of stress. In today's lesson we will take a look at one of God's Old Testament prophets who had to deal with stress. We will address what to do when your excellent has exited, your good is not good enough and your best is below average.

CONFESSION: I'm too blessed to be stressed. I will use stress as a catalyst for change in my life. When stress is overwhelming in my life, I will cast all my care on The Lord for He cares for me. When stress is adding up, I will mount up with wings like an eagle.

DEFINITIONS:

Stress: a state of mental or emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse or very demanding circumstances.

Burnout: a psychological term that refers to long-term exhaustion and diminished interest in work. Exhaustion of physical or emotional strength or motivation usually as a result of prolonged stress or frustration

STATISTICS:

· Seven out of ten people feel stressed at some point during a typical work day.

· 80% of workers feel stress on the job.

· 40% of all job turnovers are due to stress.

· Somewhere between 75 and 90% of all visits to the doctor’s office stem from stress.

· 34% of workers report difficulty in sleeping because they are too stressed out.

· Stress if now costing American businesses over one hundred and fifty billion dollars a year in health care cost, lost work time and poor quality of work.

· Doctors now know that stress is one of the leading causes of the two #1 killers in America, heart disease and cancer.

· If you don’t get rid of it, it can lead to migraine headaches, high blood pressure, chest pains, ulcers, heart burn and many other things.

OUTLINE:

Signs You might be Under Too Much Stress

1. We depreciate our worth

2. We underrate our work

3. We exaggerate our problems

4. We abdicate our dreams

10 Tips for Stress Management by Maquitta Stokes

1. Plan ahead, prioritize, stay organized, and don't take on more than you can handle.

2. Spend time with positive people.

3. Schedule healthy "escapes."

4. Set realistic goals, be flexible, and realize we ALL learn from our mistakes.

5. Take good care of yourself: mind, body, and spirit.

6. Limit your exposure to stressful situations.

7. Strive for cooperation, not confrontation. Learn to give and take to reduce the strain on yourself and others.

8. Practice deep breathing. Inhale the peace of God and exhale every burden taking your breath away.

9. Seek wise and Godly counsel. There is wisdom in the multitude of counsel.

10. Trust in the Lord with ALL your heart and lean not to your own understanding. In ALL you ways acknowledge Him and He WILL direct your path!

TEXT: 1 Kings 19:1-19 KJV; 2 Corinthians 4:1-11 KJV; Psalm 84:10; Hebrews 12:1-13

STUDY GROUP QUESTIONS:

1. How does stress affect you?

2. We typically use the process of comparing ourselves to others, then critiquing ourselves, then condemning ourselves. Elijah depreciated his worth by saying he was no better than his ancestors. Describe a way that you've devalued yourself.

3. Elijah said that even though he was warning the people, they refused to heed his warnings so he felt like a failure. Have you ever felt like a failure? If so, in what area of your life?

4. Elijah exaggerated the problem. He thought he was the only one left serving God. But God said He had 7,000 other prophets hid that Elijah didn't even know about. Why do you think we as humans often exaggerate our problems?

5. Elijah abdicated his dream when he told God, "I just want to die." What do you believe brought Elijah to this breaking point?

6. Have you ever abdicated a dream? What do you think caused you to get to that point? What might have helped you stay strong?

7. One of the hardest things to do is to be still. God says, "Be still and know that I am God!" What does the scripture mean to you when it says “Be Still”?

PRAISE REPORTS & PRAYER REQUESTS:

ACTION POINT: This week I will choose to decree that I am too blessed to stay stressed.