One of the biggest things that students in high school and middle school struggle with is stress. Why do you think that is?
How much do you think your closest friends deal with stress?
Getting Personal
How often do you feel very stressed?
List some of the biggest things that you stress about?
Do any of these things cause you to stress? Why?
- Your parents’ expectations?
- Worry about your future?
- Your grades?
- Sports/activities?
- Issues with friends?
- Stuff people post on social media?
- Money?
What are some ways that you currently deal with stress?
Do you think it is a good way to handle it or is there a better way?
Overcoming
Paul was a man that had many stressors in his life but learned to have peace in the middle of many bad situations. He wrote this about stress:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. -Philippians 4:6-7
How frequently do you talk to God about the things that are causing you stress?
What do you think it means to pray “with thanksgiving?”
What is peace that “transcends all understanding?” Have you ever experienced that kind of peace?
Thinking about your thinking
Paul went on to say:
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. – Philippians 4:8-9
Try to remember the last time you were very stressed out. What were your thoughts like?
Share one thing with the group that gives you stress. As a group pray for peace and then help each other come up with new ways to think about the situation. (example: you used to think, “I can’t handle this” now you will think “when I am weak, God is strong.”)