When Stress Hangs Around Too Long (And You’re Trying to Follow Jesus Through It)

By Jenna Sherman

Let’s be real: stress doesn’t knock. It just walks in, throws its stuff everywhere, and dares you to clean it up while juggling work, family, faith, and maybe some kind of a social life (if you’re lucky). And if you’re trying to live a Christ-centered life through it? That adds its own weird layer. Like, how do you stay grounded in your faith when you’re just trying to breathe through the next ten minutes? This isn’t a list of tips. This is more like a deep exhale — from one believer to another. 

Start with prayer. Not because it’s cute. Because it works.

Here’s what I’ve learned the hard way: when everything feels like it’s caving in, the first thing to get pushed aside is the very thing that might hold you together — prayer. I’m not talking about long, fancy prayers either. I’m talking about those “Lord, help me not scream in this meeting” kind of prayers. Those count. And when you build in some time for just prioritizing prayer and meditation, even if it’s messy and scattered, something shifts. It’s not magic. It’s just alignment. You remember who you are. You remember who’s actually in control (spoiler: it’s not you).

Pursue something purposeful can unclog the mental drain

Here’s a truth I didn’t want to face: sometimes stress isn’t about doing too much. It’s about doing too little of what matters. When your days are packed but feel empty, it messes with your mind. I found some peace when I stopped numbing the question (“Is this it?”) and started exploring next steps that fit my values. For example, if you’re in healthcare and feeling fried, check this out. Purpose calms panic in a way productivity never can.

Stress isn’t always the enemy. But the stories we tell about it can be.

I used to think feeling stressed meant I was doing something wrong spiritually. Like, if I had more faith, I wouldn’t feel so fried. That’s garbage theology, by the way. The Bible is full of stressed-out people who still followed God faithfully. Think about David writing psalms from caves or Paul dealing with literal mobs. Looking at stress through a biblical lens reminded me: it’s not a sin to be stretched. It’s just a signal. Something needs to shift. And scripture helps you figure out what that “something” might be.

Sometimes you don’t need more prayer — you need a walk.

This one took me way too long to accept. I’d sit there trying to “pray my way through it,” but I was also skipping meals, glued to my laptop, and pretending my body wasn’t part of the equation. Turns out it’s all connected. When I started moving — like just walking around the block or stretching while I waited for water to boil — stuff unlocked. My head cleared. My shoulders unclenched. Exercise and stress relief are actually a thing, and you don’t need to become a gym rat. You just need to stop letting your body sit in the same tension your mind is spiraling in.

Faith that only works on Sundays won’t cut it.

I’ve tried the compartmentalized life — where faith is for weekends and everything else is just “do what you gotta do.” But it never lasted. My peace would unravel by Tuesday, and I’d start feeling like a fraud. Real talk: we weren’t built for split lives. What changed things for me was inviting God into every part — my emails, my parenting fails, the late-night panic scrolls. Not perfectly. Just honestly. When your spiritual life bleeds into your “real life,” weirdly, the stress gets quieter. Not gone, just… less bossy.

You need people. Even if you hate asking for help.

I used to wear my independence like a badge. “I’m fine,” I’d say. Always “fine.” Even when I was one more group text away from snapping. But over time, I realized the enemy loves isolated Christians. We’re way easier to pick off when we’re trying to do it solo. That’s why the strength of faith‑community ties is more than a social perk — it’s a survival tool. You don’t need 50 friends. You need three who’ll pick up when you call crying, or who’ll send a scripture that hits right when your brain starts spiraling.

God made your brain. It’s okay to learn how it works.

This one’s for the folks who think anything psychological is “too secular.” Look — God invented the nervous system. He understands stress responses better than your therapist (though your therapist probably gets it, too). There’s room in your faith for practical tools. Combining spiritual practices with science-backed ones — like breath work, reflection, reframing — isn’t weak faith. It’s informed faith. This piece on a biblical and neuroscientific approach really helped me connect the dots. We’re fearfully and wonderfully made. Let’s act like it.

You paused. You looked for something real. That counts. I don’t know what’s chasing you today — maybe it’s a to-do list, maybe it’s a diagnosis, maybe it’s just the weight of “holding it all together.” Whatever it is, hear me: you don’t have to be perfect to be peaceful. You just have to stay connected. To God. To people. To your body. To the truth that your worth doesn’t shrink when your stress rises. You’re still loved. You’re still held. You’re still here.

Discover a welcoming community at Victory Baptist Churchwhere you can bring your true self and grow in faith through engaging worship, meaningful fellowship, and life-changing experiences.