Joyce Meyer - Overload: how to unplug, unwind, and unleash yourself from the pressure of stress

Wow! I am so excited about this book. I have a great expectation that it will truly help you learn how to manage and even eliminate the stress in your life. Let me tell you why I have a special excitement about Overload: How to Unplug, Unwind, and Unleash Yourself from the Pressure of Stress.

In my years of ministry, Ive taught and written on a wide variety of topics. Knowing God Intimately, The Power of Your Words, Obeying Gods Voice, Overcoming Fear, Living with Hope, The Battlefield of the Mind, Receiving Gods Love, Enjoying Your Lifejust to name a few.

And while each topic that God has led me to write or teach about is important, I feel like theres something particularly significant about this book. You see, stress is a subject Im all too familiar with. This isnt just an issue Ive studied. Its not a theme Ive merely read about. And its not a topic Ive only witnessed from a distance.

Stress is something Ive had to deal with.

Its a nagging enemy Ive battled. Sometimes winning and sometimes losing, stress is an adversary Ive dealt with in the past and something I still need to confront and resist in my life today.

There have been many days when stress has tried to steal my peace and hijack my joy. Hectic circumstances, busy schedules, and poor choices have been the entryway through which stress has come barging in. And I do mean barging in. Stress rarely sneaks into our lives through a back alley. It prefers to come rushing through the front door.

You may be able to relate to what I am saying. As a matter of fact, I have a feeling you know exactly what Im talking about. Im sure youve dealt with your share of frustrations, pressures, and stressful situations. Youve probably had days when the bills piled up, the kids drove you crazy, the boss seemed unreasonable, and the car started making that funny noise again. (You may be having one of those days today.)

So, it looks like you and I are in the same boat. You may not know all the specifics (though Ill share some of them with you in the pages to come), but you can relate to the stress I have experienced. And I may not know all the specifics, but I can relate to yours.

I think thats why Im so excited to be writing this book, and Im equally excited youre reading it. I feel like were in this together. You and Iwere fellow sojourners on this journey to reduce our stress levels. Weve both felt exasperated, weve both been discouraged, and weve both contemplated escaping to a beach somewhere so everyone will leave us alone. (Just kidding kind of.)

But let me zoom the camera out wider than just you and me. Theres a bigger picture here I want you to see. Did you know there is someone else who understands the pressures of stress? Someone else who can identify with what youre going through when life gets crazy and things get out of control?

That person is Jesus.

If that answer surprises you, consider for a moment some of the stressors I believe Jesus faced:

1. His ragtag group of disciples needed correction on a regular basis.

2. The Pharisees and the Sadducees constantly tried to publically discredit His ministry.

3. Huge crowds formed everywhere He went, begging for miracles.

4. The people in His own hometown of Nazareth rejected His teaching.

5. One of His chosen followers betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver.

Sounds pretty stressful to me. And that doesnt even take into consideration the fact that Jesus was on a divine mission to save humanity from our sins and reconnect us to God. Jesus knew He was going to die a cruel death; it was no surprise to Him. Yet He never stopped marching toward the cross. Thats a stress that none of us can ever imagine. It may be difficult to remember that Jesus experienced stress, but the Bible teaches us that He understands all of our weaknesses and infirmities because He was tempted in all respects just as we are, yet He never sinned (Hebrews 4:15).

But in the midst of all the stress and all the pressure, Jesus said things like:

Peace I leave with you; My [own] peace I now give and bequeath to you.

John 14:27 (emphasis added)

In the world you have distress and frustration; but be of good cheer [take courage; be confident, certain, undaunted]! For I have overcome the world.

John 16:33 (emphasis added)

I have told you these things, that My joy and delight may be in you, and that your joy and gladness may be of full measure and complete and overflowing.

John 15:11 (emphasis added)

Also, in the midst of a hurricane-type storm, He rebuked the wind and told it to be still, and then He said to His disciples