how to deal with stress

i was talking to one of my mentors at home recently, and she said something that i've hidden in my heart for safe keeping, and i want to share it with you, too. it's quite simple, actually. basically, it's the idea that we are not citizens of this world. even though we live here, our citizenship is not here, but in Heaven (we are IN the world, but not OF the world). often we forget to live our daily lives with this simple yet incredibly crucial fact in mind. because our lives don't end here by any means, there is no reason for us to worry about the little things, and keeping the state of our citizenship in mind can help us judge what is great and what is small in light of eternity. lately, as i've been going through some tough times with my parents getting divorced, i've been tempted to allow satan to trap me in worry - to convince me that my problems are huge and all-consuming... but we have to remember that he is the father of lies and aims to deceive above all else. even though it is a large, complicated problem, in light of eternity, it is a very temporary problem - not something that i can allow to hinder my life of freedom in christ and my pressing onward in pursuing righteousness. don't allow lies to permeate the truths you know and love and that have been etched upon your heart by God.

be joyful! the Lord our God is mighty to save! He has already won, and we are to walk in that path He has laid before us, constantly handing over to Him our worries, our stress, and our hurts.

"do not be anxious about anythiing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." -phil. 4:6