It turns out that we humans reason largely by means of

our hearts and not by our heads. As French mathematician and theologian Blaise Pascal noted long ago, “The heart has reasons that reason does not know.” Poets, singers, storytellers, and artists have always known this. They use symbols and met-aphors that speak to our hearts rather than to our minds. That’s why their ideas penetrate where everything else has failed. And that’s why we say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Images remain in our minds when all else is forgotten.

David wrote, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress . . . my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety” (Psalm 18:2). He was thinking of physical elements that convey spiritual realities. Each picture expresses a deeper thought, linking the visible world to the invisible realm of the Spirit. David doesn’t wander into definition and explanation, for explanation can blunt imagination. Each picture is left hanging in our minds—images that evoke mystery, arouse our imagi-nation, and deepen our understanding. David wakes up what is hidden deep within us. It’s good to think long thoughts about it. What does this mean to you: God is my rock, my fortress, my shield? —David H. Roper The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide,

A shelter in the time of storm;Secure whatever ill betide,

A shelter in the time of storm. —Charlesworth

To survive the storms of life, be anchored to the Rock of Ages.

The Lord Is My rock

read:Psalm 18:1-3

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. —Psalm 18:2

Day 6 Anchors in the Storm We live stressful lives. At every turn, we are hard- pressed and pressured by life’s circumstances and chal-lenges. Stress has become our way of life. Stress isn’t always bad. Performing under pressure motivates us to do our best. But when we are constantly running in emergency mode, our minds and bodies pay the price. Stress-related illnesses are on the rise. Medi-cal statistics indicate that 75 percent of all doctor visits are stress related. But it’s not stress that kills us; it is our reaction to it. And our response to stress is something we can choose. These selections from Our Daily Bread will not take away the stress in your life. But we hope these readings will lead you to the One who can give you peace of mind. If you have enjoyed these articles and would like to receive a copy of Our Daily Bread, just complete the request form in this brochure and return it to us. There is no subscription fee.

© 2010 by RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

StormIn The

Finding Refuge in the Storms of Stress

AnchorsSome years ago as I lay in

a hospital bed, I overheard two women talking in a waiting room outside my door. Evi-dently the husband of one of them was in critical condition. She had been under extreme stress and was greatly con-cerned about his recovery. She said to her friend, “You know, when you’re as worried as I am, you just have to smoke!” That made me think about how people handle their fears. Some turn to alcohol, others turn to food, and some to busyness. The psalmist gave us a better solution to the

problem of fear. He said, “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you” (56:3). It’s tragic when we turn to something other than the Lord to fill the void or cover up the pain we’re feeling. If we have put our faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ, we can have confidence that our heavenly Father sees us in our trials and has promised His protection. In times of distress, we can place our trust in the Lord. He wants us to call on Him so that He can encourage us with His presence and give us His peace. As you rest in the Lord and rely on Him today, you will be able to say with the psalmist, “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.” —Richard De Haan

Nothing is hid from His all-seeing eye,Never a teardrop nor even a sigh;

Anxious and troubled you never need be—Trust Him completely and doubtings will flee. —Nienhuis

When fear knocks at your door, let faith open it.

how To handLe Fear

read:Psalm 56:1-13

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. —Psalm 56:3

Day 5

Many people, making even the smallest of donations, enable RBC Ministries to reach others with the life-changing wisdom of the Bible. We are not funded or endowed by any group or denomination.

JB854

RBC Ministries Australia LimitedPO Box 393, Glen Waverley VIC 3150, AustraliaTel: (+61-3) 9574-7780, Fax: (+61-3) 9574-7787 RBC Ministries LimitedPO Box 74025, Kowloon Central Post Office, Kowloon, Hong KongTel: (+852) 2626-1102, Fax: (+852) 2626-0216 RBC IndonesiaPO Box 2500, Jakarta 11025, IndonesiaTel: (+62-21) 544-2152, Fax: (+62-21) 5435-1975 RBC Ministries Japan PO Box 46, Ikoma Nara-Ken, 630-0291 JapanTel: (+81-743) 75-8230, Fax: (+81-743) 75-8299 RBC Resource Centre BerhadPO Box 86, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80057 Johor Bahru, MalaysiaTel: (+060-7) 335-5919, Fax: (+060-7) 335-7828RBC Ministries New ZealandPO Box 303095, North Harbour, North Shore City 0751, New ZealandTel: (+64-9) 444-4146, Fax: (+64-9) 444-4156RBC Ministries FoundationPO Box 68-325, Taipei 104, Taiwan R.O.C.Tel: (+886-2) 2541-7911, Fax: (+886-2) 2523-9184RBC Ministries Thailand PO Box 35, Huamark, Bangkok 10243, ThailandTel: (+66-2) 718-51667, Fax: (+66-2) 718-6016 RBC Ministries Asia LimitedMacPherson Road Post Office, PO Box 146, Singapore 913405Tel: (+65) 6858-0900, Fax: (+65) 6858-0400

OccODB-stress120110.indd 1 29/07/2010 12:34 PM

It turns out that we humans reason largely by means of

our hearts and not by our heads. As French mathematician and theologian Blaise Pascal noted long ago, “The heart has reasons that reason does not know.” Poets, singers, storytellers, and artists have always known this. They use symbols and met-aphors that speak to our hearts rather than to our minds. That’s why their ideas penetrate where everything else has failed. And that’s why we say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Images remain in our minds when all else is forgotten.

David wrote, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress . . . my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety” (Psalm 18:2). He was thinking of physical elements that convey spiritual realities. Each picture expresses a deeper thought, linking the visible world to the invisible realm of the Spirit. David doesn’t wander into definition and explanation, for explanation can blunt imagination. Each picture is left hanging in our minds—images that evoke mystery, arouse our imagi-nation, and deepen our understanding. David wakes up what is hidden deep within us. It’s good to think long thoughts about it. What does this mean to you: God is my rock, my fortress, my shield? —David H. Roper The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide,

A shelter in the time of storm;Secure whatever ill betide,

A shelter in the time of storm. —Charlesworth

To survive the storms of life, be anchored to the Rock of Ages.

The Lord Is My rock

read:Psalm 18:1-3

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. —Psalm 18:2

Day 6 Anchors in the Storm We live stressful lives. At every turn, we are hard- pressed and pressured by life’s circumstances and chal-lenges. Stress has become our way of life. Stress isn’t always bad. Performing under pressure motivates us to do our best. But when we are constantly running in emergency mode, our minds and bodies pay the price. Stress-related illnesses are on the rise. Medi-cal statistics indicate that 75 percent of all doctor visits are stress related. But it’s not stress that kills us; it is our reaction to it. And our response to stress is something we can choose. These selections from Our Daily Bread will not take away the stress in your life. But we hope these readings will lead you to the One who can give you peace of mind. If you have enjoyed these articles and would like to receive a copy of Our Daily Bread, just complete the request form in this brochure and return it to us. There is no subscription fee.

© 2010 by RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

StormIn The

Finding Refuge in the Storms of Stress

AnchorsSome years ago as I lay in

a hospital bed, I overheard two women talking in a waiting room outside my door. Evi-dently the husband of one of them was in critical condition. She had been under extreme stress and was greatly con-cerned about his recovery. She said to her friend, “You know, when you’re as worried as I am, you just have to smoke!” That made me think about how people handle their fears. Some turn to alcohol, others turn to food, and some to busyness. The psalmist gave us a better solution to the

problem of fear. He said, “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you” (56:3). It’s tragic when we turn to something other than the Lord to fill the void or cover up the pain we’re feeling. If we have put our faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ, we can have confidence that our heavenly Father sees us in our trials and has promised His protection. In times of distress, we can place our trust in the Lord. He wants us to call on Him so that He can encourage us with His presence and give us His peace. As you rest in the Lord and rely on Him today, you will be able to say with the psalmist, “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.” —Richard De Haan

Nothing is hid from His all-seeing eye,Never a teardrop nor even a sigh;

Anxious and troubled you never need be—Trust Him completely and doubtings will flee. —Nienhuis

When fear knocks at your door, let faith open it.

how To handLe Fear

read:Psalm 56:1-13

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. —Psalm 56:3

Day 5

Many people, making even the smallest of donations, enable RBC Ministries to reach others with the life-changing wisdom of the Bible. We are not funded or endowed by any group or denomination.

JB854

RBC Ministries Australia LimitedPO Box 393, Glen Waverley VIC 3150, AustraliaTel: (+61-3) 9574-7780, Fax: (+61-3) 9574-7787 RBC Ministries LimitedPO Box 74025, Kowloon Central Post Office, Kowloon, Hong KongTel: (+852) 2626-1102, Fax: (+852) 2626-0216 RBC IndonesiaPO Box 2500, Jakarta 11025, IndonesiaTel: (+62-21) 544-2152, Fax: (+62-21) 5435-1975 RBC Ministries Japan PO Box 46, Ikoma Nara-Ken, 630-0291 JapanTel: (+81-743) 75-8230, Fax: (+81-743) 75-8299 RBC Resource Centre BerhadPO Box 86, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80057 Johor Bahru, MalaysiaTel: (+060-7) 335-5919, Fax: (+060-7) 335-7828RBC Ministries New ZealandPO Box 303095, North Harbour, North Shore City 0751, New ZealandTel: (+64-9) 444-4146, Fax: (+64-9) 444-4156RBC Ministries FoundationPO Box 68-325, Taipei 104, Taiwan R.O.C.Tel: (+886-2) 2541-7911, Fax: (+886-2) 2523-9184RBC Ministries Thailand PO Box 35, Huamark, Bangkok 10243, ThailandTel: (+66-2) 718-51667, Fax: (+66-2) 718-6016 RBC Ministries Asia LimitedMacPherson Road Post Office, PO Box 146, Singapore 913405Tel: (+65) 6858-0900, Fax: (+65) 6858-0400

OccODB-stress120110.indd 1 29/07/2010 12:34 PM

I am often asked to speak on the subject of stress. I’m not

an expert on stress, just an expe-rienced sufferer! I simply share counsel from God’s Word that helps me live less stressfully and more restfully. Many listeners are desperate for any new insight I might offer. What blank looks I sometimes get when I make this particular recommendation: “Get more sleep!” In their long-ing to deepen their experience of God’s peace, they were hop-ing for something more spiritual than that. But I’m not alone in link-ing spirituality to sleep. A godly

Bible teacher was asked to share the key ingredient in his own life for walking in the Spirit. He studied the Bible and prayed regularly, but his surprising reply was this: “Get 8 hours of sleep each night.” This reply is less surprising in light of God’s initial remedy for Elijah’s stress and depression (1 Kings 19:1-18). Twice God gave him food and undisturbed sleep before gently confronting him at Mt. Horeb with his error. Psalm 4:8 says, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” Sleep is not the full remedy for stress, but other solutions can become clearer to people who get adequate rest. —Joanie Yoder

When life is so busy and hectic and humming,You’re uptight and frazzled and stressed;

Slow down for a while and spend time with the Savior,And be sure to get adequate rest. —Fitzhugh

We can sleep in peace when we remember that God is awake.

a negLecTed reMedy read:1 Kings 19:1-18

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. —Psalm 4:8

Day 2 With appealing humor, Ron Hutchcraft, busy author,

speaker, and counselor, tells about his battle with stress. One day Ron decided to “interview” the family gerbil. “Tell me, Gerbie,” Ron asked, “what do you have planned for today?” “First, breakfast,” he replied, “and then get started.” “Doing what?” Ron ques-tioned. “Why, the same thing I did yes-terday, and the day before that.” “What’s that?” Ron asked again. “The wheel.”

And sure enough, Gerbie climbed on his little wheel and started running in circles. Hours later, he was still running. The more Ron watched that gerbil, the more he saw himself. He had his own personal “wheels”—demands, deadlines, aggravations, ambitions. He felt as if he was running in circles, and he longed for peace. In his search, he made this discovery in Psalm 34: Peace isn’t automatic or passive; it must be pur-sued. Not only that, but peace is also a result of a right relationship with the Lord. As never before, Ron enthroned the Lord as the Shepherd of his life. As he did, peace, instead of the stressful wheel, became normal. Which will be normal for you today? —Joanie Yoder

Give me a heart of calm reposeAmid the world’s loud roar,A life that like a river flows

Along a peaceful shore. —Anon.

For peace that lasts, put God first.

InTervIew wITh a gerbIL

read:Psalm 34

Search for peace, and work to maintain it. —Psalm 34:14

Day 3 T he psalmist David had his dark, lonely nights when

everything seemed out of con-trol. Doubts and fears assailed him, and there was no escape from his problems. He tossed and turned just as we do, but then he turned to his Shep-herd (Psalm 23:1) and reminded himself of the Lord’s presence. That brought peace to his anx-ious, troubled soul. David said, “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me” (16:8). We too have occasions of wakefulness when anxious

thoughts jostle one another for attention, when we curse the darkness, and when we long for sleep. But we mustn’t fret, for darkness can be our friend. God is present in it, visiting us, counseling us, instructing us in the night. Perhaps on our beds, as nowhere else, we may hear God’s voice. We can listen to His thoughts and meditate on His Word. We can talk to the Lord about every concern, cast-ing our care on Him (1 Peter 5:7). We can talk about our failures, our conflicts, our challenges, our anxi- eties, our frustrations over His lengthy delays—all the things that stress us out and render us sleepless—and listen to what He has to say. That’s what can set us apart from ordinary insomniacs. That’s the secret of quiet rest. —David H. Roper

I couldn’t sleep last night, but did not tossAnd count my wakefulness a dreadful loss;Ah, no! I was quite glad to lose my sleep—

I had such wondrous company to keep! —Seller

When you can’t sleep, don’t count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd.

sLeepLess nIghTs

read:Psalm 16:1-11

I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. —Psalm 63:6

Day 4A television commercial asks, “What do you reach for when

you’re stressed?” Then it sug-gests, “Reach for [our product].” The numbers of ways people try to deal with serious stresses in life are as numerous as there are people. Having a drink. Blam-ing God. Stuffing ourselves with food. Keeping our feelings inside. Blaming others. These responses might calm us, but they’re just a temporary means of escaping our problems. No product we reach for can take them away. In Psalm 55, King David described his desire to escape from his difficulties: “My heart

pounds in my chest. . . . Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!” (vv.4,6). After the betrayal of his friend and counselor Ahithophel, who had gone to help his enemy, David wanted to get away (vv.12-13; see 2 Sam. 15). In this psalm, he tells us that he reached out to God in his pain (vv.4-5,16). What do we reach for? Author Susan Lenzkes sug-gests that we reach out to God and pour out our heart to Him. She writes, “It’s all right—questions, pain, and stabbing anger can be poured out to the Infinite One and He will not be damaged. . . . For we beat on His chest from within the circle of His arms.” —Anne Cetas

Christian, when your way seems darkest,When your eyes with tears are dim,

Straight to God your Father hastening,Tell your troubles all to Him. —Anon.

When we put our cares into God’s hands, He puts His peace into our hearts.

reach For . . .read:Psalm 55:1-7,22

Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! —Psalm 55:6

Day 1

JB854

I would like to receive additional reading m

aterials.

Please send O

ur Daily B

read to me at the address below

.

P

lease send related Christian m

aterials for my further reading.

IMP

OR

TAN

T: WE

CA

NN

OT

PR

OC

ES

S R

EQ

UE

ST

S M

AD

E O

N B

EH

AL

F O

F A

NO

TH

ER

WIT

HO

UT

CO

NS

EN

T. W

e assure you that your privacy will be respected, and w

e will not share your nam

e with any other organisation.

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ame:

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ender (M/F

):

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ome)

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hurch:

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ail:

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irth (DD

/MM

/YY

):

Return this form

to the RBC

Ministries office nearest you! (see list on last page)

OccODB-stress120110.indd 2 29/07/2010 12:34 PM

I am often asked to speak on the subject of stress. I’m not

an expert on stress, just an expe-rienced sufferer! I simply share counsel from God’s Word that helps me live less stressfully and more restfully. Many listeners are desperate for any new insight I might offer. What blank looks I sometimes get when I make this particular recommendation: “Get more sleep!” In their long-ing to deepen their experience of God’s peace, they were hop-ing for something more spiritual than that. But I’m not alone in link-ing spirituality to sleep. A godly

Bible teacher was asked to share the key ingredient in his own life for walking in the Spirit. He studied the Bible and prayed regularly, but his surprising reply was this: “Get 8 hours of sleep each night.” This reply is less surprising in light of God’s initial remedy for Elijah’s stress and depression (1 Kings 19:1-18). Twice God gave him food and undisturbed sleep before gently confronting him at Mt. Horeb with his error. Psalm 4:8 says, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” Sleep is not the full remedy for stress, but other solutions can become clearer to people who get adequate rest. —Joanie Yoder

When life is so busy and hectic and humming,You’re uptight and frazzled and stressed;

Slow down for a while and spend time with the Savior,And be sure to get adequate rest. —Fitzhugh

We can sleep in peace when we remember that God is awake.

a negLecTed reMedy read:1 Kings 19:1-18

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. —Psalm 4:8

Day 2 With appealing humor, Ron Hutchcraft, busy author,

speaker, and counselor, tells about his battle with stress. One day Ron decided to “interview” the family gerbil. “Tell me, Gerbie,” Ron asked, “what do you have planned for today?” “First, breakfast,” he replied, “and then get started.” “Doing what?” Ron ques-tioned. “Why, the same thing I did yes-terday, and the day before that.” “What’s that?” Ron asked again. “The wheel.”

And sure enough, Gerbie climbed on his little wheel and started running in circles. Hours later, he was still running. The more Ron watched that gerbil, the more he saw himself. He had his own personal “wheels”—demands, deadlines, aggravations, ambitions. He felt as if he was running in circles, and he longed for peace. In his search, he made this discovery in Psalm 34: Peace isn’t automatic or passive; it must be pur-sued. Not only that, but peace is also a result of a right relationship with the Lord. As never before, Ron enthroned the Lord as the Shepherd of his life. As he did, peace, instead of the stressful wheel, became normal. Which will be normal for you today? —Joanie Yoder

Give me a heart of calm reposeAmid the world’s loud roar,A life that like a river flows

Along a peaceful shore. —Anon.

For peace that lasts, put God first.

InTervIew wITh a gerbIL

read:Psalm 34

Search for peace, and work to maintain it. —Psalm 34:14

Day 3 T he psalmist David had his dark, lonely nights when

everything seemed out of con-trol. Doubts and fears assailed him, and there was no escape from his problems. He tossed and turned just as we do, but then he turned to his Shep-herd (Psalm 23:1) and reminded himself of the Lord’s presence. That brought peace to his anx-ious, troubled soul. David said, “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me” (16:8). We too have occasions of wakefulness when anxious

thoughts jostle one another for attention, when we curse the darkness, and when we long for sleep. But we mustn’t fret, for darkness can be our friend. God is present in it, visiting us, counseling us, instructing us in the night. Perhaps on our beds, as nowhere else, we may hear God’s voice. We can listen to His thoughts and meditate on His Word. We can talk to the Lord about every concern, cast-ing our care on Him (1 Peter 5:7). We can talk about our failures, our conflicts, our challenges, our anxi- eties, our frustrations over His lengthy delays—all the things that stress us out and render us sleepless—and listen to what He has to say. That’s what can set us apart from ordinary insomniacs. That’s the secret of quiet rest. —David H. Roper

I couldn’t sleep last night, but did not tossAnd count my wakefulness a dreadful loss;Ah, no! I was quite glad to lose my sleep—

I had such wondrous company to keep! —Seller

When you can’t sleep, don’t count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd.

sLeepLess nIghTs

read:Psalm 16:1-11

I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. —Psalm 63:6

Day 4A television commercial asks, “What do you reach for when

you’re stressed?” Then it sug-gests, “Reach for [our product].” The numbers of ways people try to deal with serious stresses in life are as numerous as there are people. Having a drink. Blam-ing God. Stuffing ourselves with food. Keeping our feelings inside. Blaming others. These responses might calm us, but they’re just a temporary means of escaping our problems. No product we reach for can take them away. In Psalm 55, King David described his desire to escape from his difficulties: “My heart

pounds in my chest. . . . Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!” (vv.4,6). After the betrayal of his friend and counselor Ahithophel, who had gone to help his enemy, David wanted to get away (vv.12-13; see 2 Sam. 15). In this psalm, he tells us that he reached out to God in his pain (vv.4-5,16). What do we reach for? Author Susan Lenzkes sug-gests that we reach out to God and pour out our heart to Him. She writes, “It’s all right—questions, pain, and stabbing anger can be poured out to the Infinite One and He will not be damaged. . . . For we beat on His chest from within the circle of His arms.” —Anne Cetas

Christian, when your way seems darkest,When your eyes with tears are dim,

Straight to God your Father hastening,Tell your troubles all to Him. —Anon.

When we put our cares into God’s hands, He puts His peace into our hearts.

reach For . . .read:Psalm 55:1-7,22

Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! —Psalm 55:6

Day 1

JB854

I would like to receive additional reading m

aterials.

Please send O

ur Daily B

read to me at the address below

.

P

lease send related Christian m

aterials for my further reading.

IMP

OR

TAN

T: WE

CA

NN

OT

PR

OC

ES

S R

EQ

UE

ST

S M

AD

E O

N B

EH

AL

F O

F A

NO

TH

ER

WIT

HO

UT

CO

NS

EN

T. W

e assure you that your privacy will be respected, and w

e will not share your nam

e with any other organisation.

Full N

ame:

G

ender (M/F

):

Address:

Postcode:

Tel: (H

ome)

(Office)

(HP

)

Occupation:

C

hurch:

E-m

ail:

Date of B

irth (DD

/MM

/YY

):

Return this form

to the RBC

Ministries office nearest you! (see list on last page)

OccODB-stress120110.indd 2 29/07/2010 12:34 PM

I am often asked to speak on the subject of stress. I’m not

an expert on stress, just an expe-rienced sufferer! I simply share counsel from God’s Word that helps me live less stressfully and more restfully. Many listeners are desperate for any new insight I might offer. What blank looks I sometimes get when I make this particular recommendation: “Get more sleep!” In their long-ing to deepen their experience of God’s peace, they were hop-ing for something more spiritual than that. But I’m not alone in link-ing spirituality to sleep. A godly

Bible teacher was asked to share the key ingredient in his own life for walking in the Spirit. He studied the Bible and prayed regularly, but his surprising reply was this: “Get 8 hours of sleep each night.” This reply is less surprising in light of God’s initial remedy for Elijah’s stress and depression (1 Kings 19:1-18). Twice God gave him food and undisturbed sleep before gently confronting him at Mt. Horeb with his error. Psalm 4:8 says, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” Sleep is not the full remedy for stress, but other solutions can become clearer to people who get adequate rest. —Joanie Yoder

When life is so busy and hectic and humming,You’re uptight and frazzled and stressed;

Slow down for a while and spend time with the Savior,And be sure to get adequate rest. —Fitzhugh

We can sleep in peace when we remember that God is awake.

a negLecTed reMedy read:1 Kings 19:1-18

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. —Psalm 4:8

Day 2 With appealing humor, Ron Hutchcraft, busy author,

speaker, and counselor, tells about his battle with stress. One day Ron decided to “interview” the family gerbil. “Tell me, Gerbie,” Ron asked, “what do you have planned for today?” “First, breakfast,” he replied, “and then get started.” “Doing what?” Ron ques-tioned. “Why, the same thing I did yes-terday, and the day before that.” “What’s that?” Ron asked again. “The wheel.”

And sure enough, Gerbie climbed on his little wheel and started running in circles. Hours later, he was still running. The more Ron watched that gerbil, the more he saw himself. He had his own personal “wheels”—demands, deadlines, aggravations, ambitions. He felt as if he was running in circles, and he longed for peace. In his search, he made this discovery in Psalm 34: Peace isn’t automatic or passive; it must be pur-sued. Not only that, but peace is also a result of a right relationship with the Lord. As never before, Ron enthroned the Lord as the Shepherd of his life. As he did, peace, instead of the stressful wheel, became normal. Which will be normal for you today? —Joanie Yoder

Give me a heart of calm reposeAmid the world’s loud roar,A life that like a river flows

Along a peaceful shore. —Anon.

For peace that lasts, put God first.

InTervIew wITh a gerbIL

read:Psalm 34

Search for peace, and work to maintain it. —Psalm 34:14

Day 3 T he psalmist David had his dark, lonely nights when

everything seemed out of con-trol. Doubts and fears assailed him, and there was no escape from his problems. He tossed and turned just as we do, but then he turned to his Shep-herd (Psalm 23:1) and reminded himself of the Lord’s presence. That brought peace to his anx-ious, troubled soul. David said, “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me” (16:8). We too have occasions of wakefulness when anxious

thoughts jostle one another for attention, when we curse the darkness, and when we long for sleep. But we mustn’t fret, for darkness can be our friend. God is present in it, visiting us, counseling us, instructing us in the night. Perhaps on our beds, as nowhere else, we may hear God’s voice. We can listen to His thoughts and meditate on His Word. We can talk to the Lord about every concern, cast-ing our care on Him (1 Peter 5:7). We can talk about our failures, our conflicts, our challenges, our anxi- eties, our frustrations over His lengthy delays—all the things that stress us out and render us sleepless—and listen to what He has to say. That’s what can set us apart from ordinary insomniacs. That’s the secret of quiet rest. —David H. Roper

I couldn’t sleep last night, but did not tossAnd count my wakefulness a dreadful loss;Ah, no! I was quite glad to lose my sleep—

I had such wondrous company to keep! —Seller

When you can’t sleep, don’t count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd.

sLeepLess nIghTs

read:Psalm 16:1-11

I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. —Psalm 63:6

Day 4A television commercial asks, “What do you reach for when

you’re stressed?” Then it sug-gests, “Reach for [our product].” The numbers of ways people try to deal with serious stresses in life are as numerous as there are people. Having a drink. Blam-ing God. Stuffing ourselves with food. Keeping our feelings inside. Blaming others. These responses might calm us, but they’re just a temporary means of escaping our problems. No product we reach for can take them away. In Psalm 55, King David described his desire to escape from his difficulties: “My heart

pounds in my chest. . . . Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!” (vv.4,6). After the betrayal of his friend and counselor Ahithophel, who had gone to help his enemy, David wanted to get away (vv.12-13; see 2 Sam. 15). In this psalm, he tells us that he reached out to God in his pain (vv.4-5,16). What do we reach for? Author Susan Lenzkes sug-gests that we reach out to God and pour out our heart to Him. She writes, “It’s all right—questions, pain, and stabbing anger can be poured out to the Infinite One and He will not be damaged. . . . For we beat on His chest from within the circle of His arms.” —Anne Cetas

Christian, when your way seems darkest,When your eyes with tears are dim,

Straight to God your Father hastening,Tell your troubles all to Him. —Anon.

When we put our cares into God’s hands, He puts His peace into our hearts.

reach For . . .read:Psalm 55:1-7,22

Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! —Psalm 55:6

Day 1

JB854

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OccODB-stress120110.indd 2 29/07/2010 12:34 PM

I am often asked to speak on the subject of stress. I’m not

an expert on stress, just an expe-rienced sufferer! I simply share counsel from God’s Word that helps me live less stressfully and more restfully. Many listeners are desperate for any new insight I might offer. What blank looks I sometimes get when I make this particular recommendation: “Get more sleep!” In their long-ing to deepen their experience of God’s peace, they were hop-ing for something more spiritual than that. But I’m not alone in link-ing spirituality to sleep. A godly

Bible teacher was asked to share the key ingredient in his own life for walking in the Spirit. He studied the Bible and prayed regularly, but his surprising reply was this: “Get 8 hours of sleep each night.” This reply is less surprising in light of God’s initial remedy for Elijah’s stress and depression (1 Kings 19:1-18). Twice God gave him food and undisturbed sleep before gently confronting him at Mt. Horeb with his error. Psalm 4:8 says, “In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.” Sleep is not the full remedy for stress, but other solutions can become clearer to people who get adequate rest. —Joanie Yoder

When life is so busy and hectic and humming,You’re uptight and frazzled and stressed;

Slow down for a while and spend time with the Savior,And be sure to get adequate rest. —Fitzhugh

We can sleep in peace when we remember that God is awake.

a negLecTed reMedy read:1 Kings 19:1-18

In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe. —Psalm 4:8

Day 2 With appealing humor, Ron Hutchcraft, busy author,

speaker, and counselor, tells about his battle with stress. One day Ron decided to “interview” the family gerbil. “Tell me, Gerbie,” Ron asked, “what do you have planned for today?” “First, breakfast,” he replied, “and then get started.” “Doing what?” Ron ques-tioned. “Why, the same thing I did yes-terday, and the day before that.” “What’s that?” Ron asked again. “The wheel.”

And sure enough, Gerbie climbed on his little wheel and started running in circles. Hours later, he was still running. The more Ron watched that gerbil, the more he saw himself. He had his own personal “wheels”—demands, deadlines, aggravations, ambitions. He felt as if he was running in circles, and he longed for peace. In his search, he made this discovery in Psalm 34: Peace isn’t automatic or passive; it must be pur-sued. Not only that, but peace is also a result of a right relationship with the Lord. As never before, Ron enthroned the Lord as the Shepherd of his life. As he did, peace, instead of the stressful wheel, became normal. Which will be normal for you today? —Joanie Yoder

Give me a heart of calm reposeAmid the world’s loud roar,A life that like a river flows

Along a peaceful shore. —Anon.

For peace that lasts, put God first.

InTervIew wITh a gerbIL

read:Psalm 34

Search for peace, and work to maintain it. —Psalm 34:14

Day 3 T he psalmist David had his dark, lonely nights when

everything seemed out of con-trol. Doubts and fears assailed him, and there was no escape from his problems. He tossed and turned just as we do, but then he turned to his Shep-herd (Psalm 23:1) and reminded himself of the Lord’s presence. That brought peace to his anx-ious, troubled soul. David said, “I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for He is right beside me” (16:8). We too have occasions of wakefulness when anxious

thoughts jostle one another for attention, when we curse the darkness, and when we long for sleep. But we mustn’t fret, for darkness can be our friend. God is present in it, visiting us, counseling us, instructing us in the night. Perhaps on our beds, as nowhere else, we may hear God’s voice. We can listen to His thoughts and meditate on His Word. We can talk to the Lord about every concern, cast-ing our care on Him (1 Peter 5:7). We can talk about our failures, our conflicts, our challenges, our anxi- eties, our frustrations over His lengthy delays—all the things that stress us out and render us sleepless—and listen to what He has to say. That’s what can set us apart from ordinary insomniacs. That’s the secret of quiet rest. —David H. Roper

I couldn’t sleep last night, but did not tossAnd count my wakefulness a dreadful loss;Ah, no! I was quite glad to lose my sleep—

I had such wondrous company to keep! —Seller

When you can’t sleep, don’t count sheep. Talk to the Shepherd.

sLeepLess nIghTs

read:Psalm 16:1-11

I lie awake thinking of you, meditating on you through the night. —Psalm 63:6

Day 4A television commercial asks, “What do you reach for when

you’re stressed?” Then it sug-gests, “Reach for [our product].” The numbers of ways people try to deal with serious stresses in life are as numerous as there are people. Having a drink. Blam-ing God. Stuffing ourselves with food. Keeping our feelings inside. Blaming others. These responses might calm us, but they’re just a temporary means of escaping our problems. No product we reach for can take them away. In Psalm 55, King David described his desire to escape from his difficulties: “My heart

pounds in my chest. . . . Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest!” (vv.4,6). After the betrayal of his friend and counselor Ahithophel, who had gone to help his enemy, David wanted to get away (vv.12-13; see 2 Sam. 15). In this psalm, he tells us that he reached out to God in his pain (vv.4-5,16). What do we reach for? Author Susan Lenzkes sug-gests that we reach out to God and pour out our heart to Him. She writes, “It’s all right—questions, pain, and stabbing anger can be poured out to the Infinite One and He will not be damaged. . . . For we beat on His chest from within the circle of His arms.” —Anne Cetas

Christian, when your way seems darkest,When your eyes with tears are dim,

Straight to God your Father hastening,Tell your troubles all to Him. —Anon.

When we put our cares into God’s hands, He puts His peace into our hearts.

reach For . . .read:Psalm 55:1-7,22

Oh, that I had wings like a dove; then I would fly away and rest! —Psalm 55:6

Day 1

JB854

I would like to receive additional reading m

aterials.

Please send O

ur Daily B

read to me at the address below

.

P

lease send related Christian m

aterials for my further reading.

IMP

OR

TAN

T: WE

CA

NN

OT

PR

OC

ES

S R

EQ

UE

ST

S M

AD

E O

N B

EH

AL

F O

F A

NO

TH

ER

WIT

HO

UT

CO

NS

EN

T. W

e assure you that your privacy will be respected, and w

e will not share your nam

e with any other organisation.

Full N

ame:

G

ender (M/F

):

Address:

Postcode:

Tel: (H

ome)

(Office)

(HP

)

Occupation:

C

hurch:

E-m

ail:

Date of B

irth (DD

/MM

/YY

):

Return this form

to the RBC

Ministries office nearest you! (see list on last page)

OccODB-stress120110.indd 2 29/07/2010 12:34 PM

It turns out that we humans reason largely by means of

our hearts and not by our heads. As French mathematician and theologian Blaise Pascal noted long ago, “The heart has reasons that reason does not know.” Poets, singers, storytellers, and artists have always known this. They use symbols and met-aphors that speak to our hearts rather than to our minds. That’s why their ideas penetrate where everything else has failed. And that’s why we say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Images remain in our minds when all else is forgotten.

David wrote, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress . . . my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety” (Psalm 18:2). He was thinking of physical elements that convey spiritual realities. Each picture expresses a deeper thought, linking the visible world to the invisible realm of the Spirit. David doesn’t wander into definition and explanation, for explanation can blunt imagination. Each picture is left hanging in our minds—images that evoke mystery, arouse our imagi-nation, and deepen our understanding. David wakes up what is hidden deep within us. It’s good to think long thoughts about it. What does this mean to you: God is my rock, my fortress, my shield? —David H. Roper The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide,

A shelter in the time of storm;Secure whatever ill betide,

A shelter in the time of storm. —Charlesworth

To survive the storms of life, be anchored to the Rock of Ages.

The Lord Is My rock

read:Psalm 18:1-3

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. —Psalm 18:2

Day 6 Anchors in the Storm We live stressful lives. At every turn, we are hard- pressed and pressured by life’s circumstances and chal-lenges. Stress has become our way of life. Stress isn’t always bad. Performing under pressure motivates us to do our best. But when we are constantly running in emergency mode, our minds and bodies pay the price. Stress-related illnesses are on the rise. Medi-cal statistics indicate that 75 percent of all doctor visits are stress related. But it’s not stress that kills us; it is our reaction to it. And our response to stress is something we can choose. These selections from Our Daily Bread will not take away the stress in your life. But we hope these readings will lead you to the One who can give you peace of mind. If you have enjoyed these articles and would like to receive a copy of Our Daily Bread, just complete the request form in this brochure and return it to us. There is no subscription fee.

© 2010 by RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

StormIn The

Finding Refuge in the Storms of Stress

AnchorsSome years ago as I lay in

a hospital bed, I overheard two women talking in a waiting room outside my door. Evi-dently the husband of one of them was in critical condition. She had been under extreme stress and was greatly con-cerned about his recovery. She said to her friend, “You know, when you’re as worried as I am, you just have to smoke!” That made me think about how people handle their fears. Some turn to alcohol, others turn to food, and some to busyness. The psalmist gave us a better solution to the

problem of fear. He said, “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you” (56:3). It’s tragic when we turn to something other than the Lord to fill the void or cover up the pain we’re feeling. If we have put our faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ, we can have confidence that our heavenly Father sees us in our trials and has promised His protection. In times of distress, we can place our trust in the Lord. He wants us to call on Him so that He can encourage us with His presence and give us His peace. As you rest in the Lord and rely on Him today, you will be able to say with the psalmist, “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.” —Richard De Haan

Nothing is hid from His all-seeing eye,Never a teardrop nor even a sigh;

Anxious and troubled you never need be—Trust Him completely and doubtings will flee. —Nienhuis

When fear knocks at your door, let faith open it.

how To handLe Fear

read:Psalm 56:1-13

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. —Psalm 56:3

Day 5

Many people, making even the smallest of donations, enable RBC Ministries to reach others with the life-changing wisdom of the Bible. We are not funded or endowed by any group or denomination.

JB854

RBC Ministries Australia LimitedPO Box 393, Glen Waverley VIC 3150, AustraliaTel: (+61-3) 9574-7780, Fax: (+61-3) 9574-7787 RBC Ministries LimitedPO Box 74025, Kowloon Central Post Office, Kowloon, Hong KongTel: (+852) 2626-1102, Fax: (+852) 2626-0216 RBC IndonesiaPO Box 2500, Jakarta 11025, IndonesiaTel: (+62-21) 544-2152, Fax: (+62-21) 5435-1975 RBC Ministries Japan PO Box 46, Ikoma Nara-Ken, 630-0291 JapanTel: (+81-743) 75-8230, Fax: (+81-743) 75-8299 RBC Resource Centre BerhadPO Box 86, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80057 Johor Bahru, MalaysiaTel: (+060-7) 335-5919, Fax: (+060-7) 335-7828RBC Ministries New ZealandPO Box 303095, North Harbour, North Shore City 0751, New ZealandTel: (+64-9) 444-4146, Fax: (+64-9) 444-4156RBC Ministries FoundationPO Box 68-325, Taipei 104, Taiwan R.O.C.Tel: (+886-2) 2541-7911, Fax: (+886-2) 2523-9184RBC Ministries Thailand PO Box 35, Huamark, Bangkok 10243, ThailandTel: (+66-2) 718-51667, Fax: (+66-2) 718-6016 RBC Ministries Asia LimitedMacPherson Road Post Office, PO Box 146, Singapore 913405Tel: (+65) 6858-0900, Fax: (+65) 6858-0400

OccODB-stress120110.indd 1 29/07/2010 12:34 PM

It turns out that we humans reason largely by means of

our hearts and not by our heads. As French mathematician and theologian Blaise Pascal noted long ago, “The heart has reasons that reason does not know.” Poets, singers, storytellers, and artists have always known this. They use symbols and met-aphors that speak to our hearts rather than to our minds. That’s why their ideas penetrate where everything else has failed. And that’s why we say, “A picture is worth a thousand words.” Images remain in our minds when all else is forgotten.

David wrote, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress . . . my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety” (Psalm 18:2). He was thinking of physical elements that convey spiritual realities. Each picture expresses a deeper thought, linking the visible world to the invisible realm of the Spirit. David doesn’t wander into definition and explanation, for explanation can blunt imagination. Each picture is left hanging in our minds—images that evoke mystery, arouse our imagi-nation, and deepen our understanding. David wakes up what is hidden deep within us. It’s good to think long thoughts about it. What does this mean to you: God is my rock, my fortress, my shield? —David H. Roper The Lord’s our Rock, in Him we hide,

A shelter in the time of storm;Secure whatever ill betide,

A shelter in the time of storm. —Charlesworth

To survive the storms of life, be anchored to the Rock of Ages.

The Lord Is My rock

read:Psalm 18:1-3

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection. —Psalm 18:2

Day 6 Anchors in the Storm We live stressful lives. At every turn, we are hard- pressed and pressured by life’s circumstances and chal-lenges. Stress has become our way of life. Stress isn’t always bad. Performing under pressure motivates us to do our best. But when we are constantly running in emergency mode, our minds and bodies pay the price. Stress-related illnesses are on the rise. Medi-cal statistics indicate that 75 percent of all doctor visits are stress related. But it’s not stress that kills us; it is our reaction to it. And our response to stress is something we can choose. These selections from Our Daily Bread will not take away the stress in your life. But we hope these readings will lead you to the One who can give you peace of mind. If you have enjoyed these articles and would like to receive a copy of Our Daily Bread, just complete the request form in this brochure and return it to us. There is no subscription fee.

© 2010 by RBC Ministries. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

StormIn The

Finding Refuge in the Storms of Stress

AnchorsSome years ago as I lay in

a hospital bed, I overheard two women talking in a waiting room outside my door. Evi-dently the husband of one of them was in critical condition. She had been under extreme stress and was greatly con-cerned about his recovery. She said to her friend, “You know, when you’re as worried as I am, you just have to smoke!” That made me think about how people handle their fears. Some turn to alcohol, others turn to food, and some to busyness. The psalmist gave us a better solution to the

problem of fear. He said, “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you” (56:3). It’s tragic when we turn to something other than the Lord to fill the void or cover up the pain we’re feeling. If we have put our faith in God’s Son, Jesus Christ, we can have confidence that our heavenly Father sees us in our trials and has promised His protection. In times of distress, we can place our trust in the Lord. He wants us to call on Him so that He can encourage us with His presence and give us His peace. As you rest in the Lord and rely on Him today, you will be able to say with the psalmist, “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.” —Richard De Haan

Nothing is hid from His all-seeing eye,Never a teardrop nor even a sigh;

Anxious and troubled you never need be—Trust Him completely and doubtings will flee. —Nienhuis

When fear knocks at your door, let faith open it.

how To handLe Fear

read:Psalm 56:1-13

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you. —Psalm 56:3

Day 5

Many people, making even the smallest of donations, enable RBC Ministries to reach others with the life-changing wisdom of the Bible. We are not funded or endowed by any group or denomination.

JB854

RBC Ministries Australia LimitedPO Box 393, Glen Waverley VIC 3150, AustraliaTel: (+61-3) 9574-7780, Fax: (+61-3) 9574-7787 RBC Ministries LimitedPO Box 74025, Kowloon Central Post Office, Kowloon, Hong KongTel: (+852) 2626-1102, Fax: (+852) 2626-0216 RBC IndonesiaPO Box 2500, Jakarta 11025, IndonesiaTel: (+62-21) 544-2152, Fax: (+62-21) 5435-1975 RBC Ministries Japan PO Box 46, Ikoma Nara-Ken, 630-0291 JapanTel: (+81-743) 75-8230, Fax: (+81-743) 75-8299 RBC Resource Centre BerhadPO Box 86, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80057 Johor Bahru, MalaysiaTel: (+060-7) 335-5919, Fax: (+060-7) 335-7828RBC Ministries New ZealandPO Box 303095, North Harbour, North Shore City 0751, New ZealandTel: (+64-9) 444-4146, Fax: (+64-9) 444-4156RBC Ministries FoundationPO Box 68-325, Taipei 104, Taiwan R.O.C.Tel: (+886-2) 2541-7911, Fax: (+886-2) 2523-9184RBC Ministries Thailand PO Box 35, Huamark, Bangkok 10243, ThailandTel: (+66-2) 718-51667, Fax: (+66-2) 718-6016 RBC Ministries Asia LimitedMacPherson Road Post Office, PO Box 146, Singapore 913405Tel: (+65) 6858-0900, Fax: (+65) 6858-0400

OccODB-stress120110.indd 1 29/07/2010 12:34 PM