How to Pray in Times of Stress

By Linda Evans Shepherd

While there are a variety of coping techniques when it comes to stress--sleep more, eat better, avoid this, seek that out--the true remedy is prayer. In this inspiring book, Linda Evans Shepherd shows readers how to recognize God's continual presence and yield their troubles to the Prince of Peace. Through captivating stories, explorations of fascinating biblical characters, and examples of deeper-than-ever prayers, she brings within readers' grasp the peace that passes understanding. Anyone who is overwhelmed by all of the urgent demands on their time will find in this book a lifeline to true peace.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Baker Publishing Group
• Release date: Jan 2, 2018
• ISBN: 9781493413867

Linda Evans Shepherd

Linda Evans Shepherd is an award-winning author, a successful speaker, and a media personality. The president of Right to the Heart Ministries, she is the author of 37 books, including When You Don't Know What to Pray, Praying God's Promises, and Prayers for Every Need. She lives in Colorado. For more, visit www.sheppro.com.

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© 2014 by Linda Evans Shepherd

Published by Revell

a division of Baker Publishing Group

P.O. Box 6287, Grand Rapids, MI 49516-6287

www.revellbooks.com

Spire edition published 2018

Previously published under the title The Stress Cure

Ebook edition created 2018

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means—for example, electronic, photocopy, recording—without the prior written permission of the publisher. The only exception is brief quotations in printed reviews.

Unless otherwise indicated, Scripture quotations are from the Holy Bible, New International Version®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com

Scripture quotations labeled ESV are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV Text Edition: 2007

Scripture quotations labeled GNT are from the Good News Translation—Second Edition. Copyright © 1992 by American Bible Society. Used by permission.

Scripture quotations labeled GW are from GOD’S WORD®. © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

Scripture quotations labeled KJV are from the King James Version of the Bible.

Scripture quotations labeled Message are from THE MESSAGE . Copyright © by Eugene H. Peterson 1993, 1994, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2002. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Scripture quotations labeled NASB are from the New American Standard Bible®, copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations labeled NKJV are from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled NLT are from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled NLV are from New Life Version © Christian Literature International.

Scripture quotations labeled NRSV are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright © 1989, by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations labeled TLB are from The Living Bible, copyright © 1971. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Published in association with the Books & Such Literary Agency, 52 Mission Circle, Suite 122, PMB 170, Santa Rosa, CA 95409-7953.

To protect privacy, some details and names have been changed.

Linda brilliantly and biblically shines the light on exchanging the promised gift of peace for the crippling and unwanted stresses of life. Packed with prayer and promises, this book will free ´you to experience the power of God’s peace.

—Lysa TerKeurst, New York Times bestselling author, Unglued; president, Proverbs 31 Ministries

Praise for When You Don’t Know What to Pray

The book’s strength is Shepherd’s heart for prayer and tenderness for her readers. Recommend to people who are struggling through difficult circumstances and to pastors and group leaders.

—CBA Retailers + Resources

Linda has used powerful prayer to overcome the worst of circumstances, and you can too. She does not share pat answers, she shares truth that will transform your life. Are you ready to learn her prayer secrets? Bow your head and pray your way through this book.

—LeAnn Thieman, coauthor, Chicken Soup for the Christian Woman’s Soul and Chicken Soup for the Christian Soul 2

This book is a must-read for anyone who desires a stronger prayer life. Linda speaks from experience, and her stories compel the reader to pray more.

—Carole Lewis, national director, First Place, www.firstplace.org

Linda Evans Shepherd is a woman of prayer, and in a world of crisis, change, and constant challenges, what woman doesn’t need to learn more about the praying life? Pick up this book to gain an encouraged and equipped heart.

—Pam Farrel, international speaker; relationship specialist; author, Men Are Like Waffles, Women Are Like Spaghetti

Praise for Experiencing God’s Presence

"If you long for a relationship with God that is deeper, richer, and more intimate than you’ve ever known before, read this book. In Experiencing God’s Presence, Linda Evans Shepherd reveals the secrets of learning how to listen to God during your prayer times. Each chapter is filled with practical, biblical tools that will enrich your prayer life and draw you closer to the heart of the Father."

—Carol Kent, speaker; author, When I Lay My Isaac Down

"Experiencing God’s Presence will transform your prayer life! Please buy this book."

—Elaine Miller, author, Splashes of Serenity

In memory of my dad—

James Leroy Evans.

A godly man, a wonderful husband, and a dear father.

No daughter had a better daddy.

Contents

Cover    1

Title Page    3

Copyright Page    4

Endorsements    5

Dedication    7

Acknowledgments    10

Introduction: The Problem of Stress    11

1. The Key to Peace: Finding More of God’s Presence    19

2. Overwhelmed: Finding Relief When the World Closes In    32

3. Stuck: Finding Release from the Cares of This World    47

4. Frustrated: Finding Contentment in Difficulties    60

5. Burdened: Finding a Way to Lighten Your Load    75

6. Hopeless: Finding a Light in the Dark    92

7. Offended: Finding Relief from Hard Feelings    105

8. Anxious: Finding God’s Bliss    121

9. Negative: Finding the Secret to a Good Mood    138

10. Distracted: Finding Your Focus    155

11. Depressed: Finding Real Joy    170

12. The Peace That Passes Understanding    186

Conclusion: Finding God’s Peace    203

Notes    204

About the Author    208

Back Cover    209

Acknowledgments

Thank you, dear family, for your love and support as I wrote this book. I want to thank my dear husband and my son, as you are always there for me. I’m also sending a special thank-you to my daughter—Miss Laura—who stays joyful no matter her challenges. You are an inspiration.

I’m also sending a shout out to my wonderful praying friends in the Advanced Writers and Speakers Association (AWSA) and my precious prayer partner, Carole. Also, a special thank-you to Team Shepherd for all you do. I so appreciate you all.

Also, a special thanks to my editor, Vicki Crumpton, and my agent, Janet Kobobel Grant, as well as all my wonderful friends at Baker Publishing Group. It has been such a blessing to partner with you in publishing this much needed message.

And finally, thank you, dear readers, for opening this book. The thing I most loved about writing it is that it helped me go deeper into the mysteries of God’s joy, peace, and presence. My prayer is that this book will do the same for you.

I love you all very much!

Introduction

The Problem of Stress

Peace be with you.

Luke 24:36

A clock would make a poor bank. No customer would ever be able to deposit a moment to save for later because, at the end of the day, every second would be spent and the clock would be bankrupt.

While it’s true that each day gives us twenty-four hours to spend, those hours have to be divided into moments driven by the demands of our to-do lists, not to mention our problems, worries, families, and jobs. It seems that our minutes evaporate no matter how fast we rush to meet them. The ticking of the clock is one of the reasons why, according to Psychology Today, 39 percent of Americans claimed their stress had increased over the past year. The article continues with unsettling news: More alarming, only 29 percent reported that they were doing an ‘excellent’ or ‘very good’ job at managing their stress.1

We’ll get up tomorrow with a brand-new set of twenty-four hours, a new day that will give us another chance to catch up, find solutions to our challenges, and—hopefully—calm down. Yet, by the end of tomorrow, many of us will fail to find solutions to our stressors. A recent survey shows that most people hear alarm bells when it comes to money (75%), work (70%), the economy (67%), relationships (58%), family responsibilities (57%), family’s health (53%), personal health (53%), job stability (49%), housing (49%), and personal safety (32%).2

If we can’t find a way to quiet these alarms, we could be in for even more stress, which eventually impacts our health. Web MD explains:

If stress happens too often or lasts too long, it can have bad effects. It can be linked to headaches, an upset stomach, back pain, and trouble sleeping. It can weaken your immune system, making it harder to fight off disease. If you already have a health problem, stress may make it worse. It can make you moody, tense, or depressed. Your relationships may suffer, and you may not do well at work or school.3

Not only that, but stress contributes to conditions such as fatigue, poor concentration, irritability, a quick temper, obesity, cancer, stroke, heart attack, and even death.

Yikes! The thought of the effects of stress is enough to stress out anyone.

Before I start to tell you the secrets to taming stress, let’s define it. Wikipedia defines stress as a negative concept that can have an impact on one’s mental and physical well-being,4 while the World English Dictionary describes it as mental, emotional, or physical strain or tension.5

Besides the mental and physical impacts of stress, stress can also impact our spiritual well-being with what I call soul blocks. These include such things as harboring offenses, the feeling of being overwhelmed or out of control, continually striving for more, frustrations, burdens, hopelessness, offenses, anxiety, bad attitudes, distractions, and depression.

But I have good news! I’ve felt the effects of these negative consequences more than a few times, and I’ve discovered powerful solutions that can help you build bridges over your stressors so you can journey on to peace, as well as to love, joy, . . . forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control (Gal. 5:22–23).

Though it’s true that we all get twenty-four hours each day, we can choose to spend our time filled with anxiety, or we can push toward God’s peace that passes understanding. Building a bridge to peace involves gaining a better understanding of God and the tools he’s given us, which include prayer and God’s Word.

As for me? I would love to tell you that I’ve eliminated all stress from my life, but as a fellow traveler who happens to be married with kids, I often get opportunities to test God’s solutions of peace in my own crazy life, which includes a profoundly disabled daughter, the recent death of my father, and book deadlines. So, yes, I know the taste and feel of stress. Yet, I’ve also tasted and felt God’s peace. I’ve learned to use the tools of prayer and God’s Word, tools we will use together throughout the pages of this book.

A Stressful Day

Not long ago, I heard a radio preacher say, If you have stress, that means you’re not trusting God. I was having a stressful day, so I didn’t particularly care for this remark. I silently argued, Why of course I trust God. My problem is I’m having a day that won’t let me phone it in.

My stressful day started the morning I had to drive fifty miles to get to a live radio interview in another town. As the clock ticked down to the time I had to leave, everything started to go wrong. I suddenly remembered I needed to get a tax report in the mail, and then my college son called to tell me the registration tags on his car had expired six months ago. He needed me to run down to the county clerk with my checkbook in hand, as he lived out of town and couldn’t take care of this errand himself.

While racing to finish the tax report, I made a call to the county clerk to see if I could pay the car fee by phone. You can’t phone it in because it will take a month for your son to get the new registration sticker, the clerk admonished. His car could be impounded by then. Come in today and, if possible, bring cash.

As I felt my stress level rise, I got another call telling me my office payroll was late, a payroll I had to sign before I left town so my assistant could buy groceries, a habit she didn’t like to break. By the time I finished the tax report, signed the payroll, and paid the car fee, my stress was running high, as I was now running late for the radio interview, an interview I could not phone in.

So I hopped in my car and, with sweat trickling between my shoulder blades, raced through freeway traffic for fifty miles. When I arrived, I had to park a block away before sprinting to the building to catch the elevator. When the elevator opened at the top floor, I dashed down the hall and slipped into the chair and headphones as the radio station’s mike went live. The host barely managed to whisper, I was beginning to think you wouldn’t make it!

By the time I got back home, I was exhausted. The next morning, instead of feeling relieved that the stress was over, I found myself reliving it. That’s when a friend called and asked, You sound stressed. What’s wrong?

Happily, I rattled off my list of yesterday’s woes, a list I was sure would cause Sara to gush, Oh, Linda! I can hardly imagine.

Instead, Sara replied, Is that all? I have four of my five kids on the couch with the stomach flu, each with their own bucket!

Oh, Sara! I cried. Your stress trumps mine!

We shared a laugh, but after we hung up, I wondered why I’d allowed yesterday’s stress to block God’s peace, peace I could have had today. I hated to admit it, but that radio preacher had been right in part. Though we can’t control all the things that happen to us, we can, with God’s help, control our reaction to them—trusting God even when we’re stressed.

The Story of Peace

Throughout this book, I’m going to share stories based on God’s Word and told through my imagination. For example, when I think of the disciples, frightened and hiding after the crucifixion of Jesus, this is how I imagine the scene.

The disciples sat in the upper room with the window shuttered against the bustle of a bright Jerusalem day. They sat quietly, hardly daring to move lest their footfalls or voices be overheard by a passerby. Even so, they occasionally muttered things