“The First Stressed Out Woman” by Kaitlin Chappell Rogers
Eve was the first woman on earth to experience stress, and what a snowball effect that had on the rest of us.
In the most stressful moment of her life, she let the evil one convince her she had no other choice but to go against God.
Can you relate? Can you think of a moment in your life when you were so stressed and anxious that the enemy crept in and convinced you to go against God?
Eve’s stress came from ignoring God’s best for her.
Eve’s stress came from a lack of identity.
Eve’s stress came from the desire for instant gratification.
As soon as she and her husband, Adam, ate the forbidden fruit, they knew they made a major mistake, and mistakes often lead to stress and shame.
Put yourself in Eve’s shoes… or fig leaves… and think about the feelings that wash over you after realizing you’ve been duped by the devil.
You have spent your whole life up until this moment walking with God and living in the perfection He created. You have no needs, no worries, and no negative thoughts. You are whole and pure. But what if there is more? An enemy poses as a friend and you begin to wonder if doing the one thing God told you not to do wouldn’t be so bad after all. You ignore God’s one rule. You forget just who you are to Him. You want more wisdom, and you want it now.
So, you sin.
And your sin leads to stress.
And your stress leads to shame.
“At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.” Genesis 3:7 NLT
Now, you feel exposed and just want to hide from the God you disobeyed. But He sees you. And He still loves you; so, He creates some boundaries to protect you. His grander plan will still prevail.
Yes, you messed up, but the stress can dissipate, because more than your mistakes, you are the mother of humanity, the first woman in the bloodline of a Savior Who will come to end all stress and shame.
As we continue to look through the eyes of Eve, we see one of our sons murder the other, and our stress grows heavier. But we have walked with God through the garden! We know His peace. We know His power. We still have hope in the midst of all the chaos.
Friend, if you are feeling like Eve today, weighed down by the stress of life, remember you also have the ability to walk with God and feel His peace.
No matter what fig leaves you’re reaching for to cover up the stress, shame, or strife, know that God has a plan for you that involves pure freedom. He is in control, and all the stress in the world can’t stop Him.
In a society that presents self-care spa days as the solution to our stress, remember that God is and always will be the rest we need.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 (NIV)
In moments of stress, let’s practice reaching for His Word instead of reaching for our phones, our friends, or our favorite desserts. We were made with souls that crave reprieve from the constant hustle, bustle, and worry the world has to offer.
We get caught up in news headlines and our thoughts spiral with “what-ifs” and “why-mes,” but that is not the space our Father wants us functioning from. If nothing can thwart God’s plan, that means stress, too. He wants us pouring out the love and peace He is pouring in our hearts and minds. Being filled up to pour out requires intentional time alone with the One Who Created us.
Much like Eve, we often ignore God’s best for us, we become confused about our identities, and we long for instant solutions to pain. Sometimes, we choose temporary happiness over eternal joy. And when we try to rush ahead of God’s timing, we are left out of breath and desperate for direction.
Jesus really delivered the biggest mic drop in regards to the tribulation we will face in this life.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 (NIV)
We WILL have trouble. There’s no way around it, but instead of stressing, panicking, and grabbing for whatever life raft seems closest to us at the time, we can take heart and remember that a Savior came to overcome the world once and for all.
And He is inviting you to shake off the stress of this world and step into the serenity that surpasses all understanding.
~ Written by Kaitlin Chappell Rogers ~
Kaitlin is a newlywed striving to be a strong half of a Kingdom team with her hunk of a husband. She is a lover of words, good coffee, and exploring new cities. Her favorite places include airports, hotel rooms, and bookstores and she has yet to meet a stranger she didn’t like. Kaitlin is addicted to shopping, yoga, and brunch and couldn’t make it a single day without her dream-supporting family and best friends. She hopes everyone who meets her sees Jesus in her eyes and feels a little lighter when they leave her presence. You can say hi to Kaitlin on social media at @kchaprogers on Instagram and Twitter, @kaitlinchappellrogers on Facebook, or on her website at kaitlinchappell.com!
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