It struck me the other day, while stressed at work, if I’m really looking forward to a future kingdom, should I ever be stressed at work?  If any harm is temporary in this life and I’m working for the Lord, should I be stressed?

What causes stress:

Performance stress – I’m trying to please someone. But, at times it’s because of a hard or impossible deadline I need to meet or there will be consequences. Or maybe I let my team down and someone else has to pull more weight or won’t have work to do.

Life boundary stress – maybe work is taking up too much of my life and I’m having to work extra due to others’ mistakes. And it’s not something that I can just ignore, so I’m sacrificing other opportunities, life energy, and other goals/personal priorities for work.

Reputation – I want to do well so others think well of me. However, a bad reputation reduces job opportunities later or if I need to jump to a different job or role due to work drying up.

Fear – What if I get fired? What if I get chewed out?

Money – for life’s necessities and pleasures. for family.

Many of these are legitimate reasons. But, can’t I fulfill all of these and work very hard without stress? Focusing on eternity should bring peace to the present. And I can work hard without anxiety and worry about things I can’t control. And those things I can control, I don’t need stress to do or be motivated. As for boundaries, that’s a tough one. It does bother me when work oversteps its bounds, sometimes out of situational necessity.

I still get stressed, but I’ve found that this perspective has helped. I thank the Lord for bringing it to me because I was getting very wound up, which happens when I feel I can’t fulfill impossible demands and will fail. But, as the old hymn says, keep your eyes upon Jesus.