When my daughter was in her Teens she had a talk at school about copying with stress.  She was studying for GCSEs.  I don’t think she took it too seriously because she went round our house chanting “Stress! Stress!” in a funny voice and getting her younger brothers to join in.

 

Suicide amongst young people is on the increase year on year.  At one time, more people committed suicide on Ilford Railway Station than on any other station in the United Kingdom.  This dire statistic is one of the reasons we try to put posters there.

 

When I was a senior manager in business our HR department was keen that departmental managers reduce the number of man hours lost by doctors signing off staff as suffering with stress.   I recently met a young adult who had a row with his Dad.  That is not unusual.  What happened next was.  This fellow presented himself in a Casualty Department of a Hospital, miles from home, saying that he was homeless.  He ended up being observed in a ‘psych’ ward.  The Psychiatrist told his dad that they were worried that the young man was trying to hide from the stresses of everyday life in a safe haven. I think he suspected that there was nothing wrong with the lad.

 

Others have real worries.  How am I going to feed my kids if the Firm goes belly up during the Credit Crunch?  Workers at the Vauxhall car plant have real worries as do many others in these bad times.  

 

God’s Son, Jesus, gives a three step cure to worry.  Most British Citizens have already taken step number one.  So here are Jesus’ three steps to peace of mind.  

 

“Don’t let your hearts be troubled.  Trust in God, and trust also in me.”  The Gospel of John chapter 14 verse 1.  

 

Step 1. Trust God.

Step 2.  Trust Jesus.

Step 3.  Do not allow worry to take over your life.