Healthy Blood Through Rest: Introduction

Can You Pass THIS Stress Test?

My Story: Stress Induced Tachycardia

In my early twenties, I was experiencing bouts of tachycardia, where my heart would race out of control.  I went to the doctor for a diagnosis. He noted that yes my heart was functioning in an abnormal manner and suggested about 10 different tests to figure out the cause. He told me that if he could find nothing after the testing, it was probably just stress. I was confused why he didn't just try to rule out stress first. Why was it at the bottom of the list?

I opted against the tests and chose instead to address the stress in my life. I was suffering financial hardship, relational hardship, and educational hardship. Each of these alone were a heavy burden, combined - they put me under enormous stress.

The God Bag

As I was visiting a health food store looking for some supplements that might help my condition, I shared with the owner the difficulties I was having. Another customer overheard the conversation and told me a simple (almost silly) story that changed my life.

She had suffered from arrhythmias in the past and had overcome them by using her "God bag." She went on to explain that whenever she was worried or stressed out about something that she had no control over, she would simply put it in her "God bag." She would imagine herself literally taking her problem in her hand and placing it inside the bag. Once the problem was there, she could trust God to take care of it. After all, she could not control the outcome anyway, and worrying only brought about unpleasant physical symptoms.

I was a young Christian at the time, and I thought it couldn't hurt to try. So as I began to worry about my finances, my relationship difficulties, or an upcoming test, I imagined myself, just as she had said, putting the problem into the bag. I would especially be mindful to do this when I was feeling my heart race. Within a month of this practice, my heart arrhythmia completely vanished.

The Reversal

It is not surprising that addressing the stress in my life could cause such a reversal in my symptoms when studies have revealed time and time again the devastating affects that stress can have upon the body.

According to Dr. S.I McMillen, M.D. there are nerve fibers attached to the emotional center in the brain that "go out to every organ of the body." He goes on to say, "Because of the intricate nerve connections, it is understandable how any turmoil in the emotional center can send out impulses which can cause anything from a headache to itching in the soles of the feet."  These changes occur by three primary physiological changes: change in blood flow to an organ, change in gland secretions, and change in muscle tension. [1]

According to Dr. Michael Jacobson, "Some have estimated that stress accounts for as much as 75 percent of all visits to a physician." [2] He goes on to note that hereditary weakness is a big factor in which part of the body will be affected by stress. [3]

When I consider my stress induced tachycardia, this hereditary connection makes sense. My father has had multiple trips to the ER and ICU due to heart arrhythmias. You have likely inherited weaknesses from family members as well. We will talk more of hereditary weakness further into this study.

The Opposite of Stress

There are many forms of stress, both emotional and physical. And the opposite of stress is peace and rest - physical, emotional, and mental rest.

Matt 11:28-30 says, “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, 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.”

There are times when we cannot physically remove ourselves from the stress that we are under. Jesus was a great example of this, suffering under the ultimate stress. He endured beatings, mockings, blasphemies and lies against himself. He agonized in prayer to the point of sweating blood. He was betrayed by Judas, one of His closest associates. Peter, one of His best friends, denied him 3 times after promising utter faithfulness. And then Christ suffered the worst agony known to man in His physical and spiritual suffering on the cross.

What Did Jesus Do?

How did Jesus deal with these things?

1 Peter 2:21–23 gives us the answer: "For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously."

Jesus entrusted Himself to Him who judges righteously. He trusted God.

Though our stress will never come close to the the suffering Christ endured, we too can entrust our self to the One who knows all our troubles and judges justly.

Psalms 46:10 says it another way, "Be still and know that I am God."

I think that is what the woman really meant when she taught me to put my problems in my "God bag."

Having considered how to have rest for the soul, we will next take a closer look at what the Bible has to say about the physical side of rest.

Next: Healthy Blood Through Rest: 3 Biblical Principles

Return to: Biblical Health Study

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[1] Dr. S.I. McMillen, None of These Diseases. 22nd printing. July 1976. pg 59

[2] Dr. Michael Jacobson, The Word on Health. Moody Press, Chicago. pg 161

[3] Dr. Michael Jacobson, The Word on Health. Moody Press, Chicago. pg 163