Prayer- the Natural De-Stressor

Sometimes it takes me a while to realize some truths, but when I do, it’s wonderful, a good feeling. Recently, I’ve realized that prayer is a great, natural de-stressor. God blessed us abundantly when he gave us the ability to think, which enables us to prayer. His lower creatures cannot pray. We are exceptionally well-blessed. In return, I believe I should be using this gift much more than I do now.

Stress is natural to life. The caveman, I’m sure, was stressed facing a prehistoric animal, one he hoped he could bring down for several weeks of dinners. I think, though, that the caveman’s stress was a different type that the stress we face today. Early man faced physical stress. Sure, he must have had some mental worries, too. Actually, my statement about their not having mental stress is dead wrong. They must have worried, like us, about food, weather, good child versus bad child, evil among the clans, bad leaders versus good leaders, and much more.

So, then, stress, both mental and physical, is as old as man. Adam must have been under stress trying to decide whether to take that apple. The difference between then and now is simply that we talk about our stress, and we often depend on chemicals (meds), psychiatrists, and more, to deal with our stress. Many of these aids help a great deal. But we must never forget that we also have one wonderful medicine available to us, free, that we should use to its fullest: prayer.

Father, thank you for the ability to come to you in prayer, especially when life gets in my way.