Faithwire
  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram
  • SCOTUS
  • Life
  • Religious Liberty
  • News
  • Politics
  • Faith
  • Opinion

Americans Are Under Unprecedented Stress — What Does Scripture Say?

Photo by Christian Erfurt/Unsplash
Photo by Christian Erfurt/Unsplash
Share Tweet
By Tré Goins-Phillips
Editor

March 11, 2022

On just about every front, things aren’t panning out the way most Americans planned. Inflation is skyrocketing, gas prices are soaring, global uncertainty is dominating headlines amid Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. All of this has pushed a majority of Americans to unprecedented levels of stress.

The newly released “Stress in America” survey by the American Psychological Association shows Americans — already besieged by stress over the lingering COVID-19 pandemic — are facing profound strain over a host of issues.

According to the data, compiled after the APA surveyed 3,012 U.S. adults between Feb. 7-14, 87% of respondents cited rising costs of everyday items, including gas and groceries, as a “significant source of stress.” The same percentage said their mental health has been greatly impacted by “a constant stream of crises over the last two years.”

Eighty-four percent said the unfolding war between Russia and Ukraine is “terrifying to watch.”

Dr. Lynn Bufka, a clinical psychologist and the associate chief for practice transformation at the APA, told NBC News the unprecedented stress levels shared by so many Americans is “startling,” noting it’s concerning to see Americans overwhelmed by the same political and social issues.

“We don’t usually see 80% of people telling us that a particular stressor is stressful for that many individuals,” she explained to the outlet.

Listen to the latest episode of the Faithwire podcast 👇

In light of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, the APA conducted a second round of polling from March 1-3, surveying 2,051 U.S. adults. Eighty percent of those respondents said they are fearful of potential retaliation from Russia, either through cyberattacks or nuclear threats. Additionally, 69% admitted they are “worried the invasion of Ukraine is going to lead to nuclear war, and that they fear that we are at the beginning stages of World War III.”

Furthermore, more than one-in-five Americans (23%) said they have tried to cope with the pandemic by drinking more alcohol, consuming an average of 10 drinks per week compared to an average of two drinks in the same time span for those who didn’t report imbibing more.

Among those most stressed by the litany of issues plaguing the world are parents.

More than 70% said they are concerned the pandemic — and its associated government restrictions — has had a significant negative impact on their kids’ social, academic, and emotional development. And 68% said they fear their children’s physical health and development has been hampered by the COVID-19 crisis. The same percentage said they have been overwhelmed “trying to keep up with the rules and regulations” put in place by the government.

There is no doubt there is a laundry list of problems to worry about. As Christians, though, we ought to find hope in the fact that we worship a God who is intimately involved in our daily lives and who is sovereign, not caught off guard by anything happening in the world today.

In Hebrews 4:16, Christians are told to “approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need” (CSB). We can take our stress, anxiety, and fear to God in prayer.

Here are a few Bible passages to keep in mind as you cope with these issues and more:

“I sought the Lord, and He answered me and rescued me from all my fears.” — Psalm 34:4 (CSB)

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take up my yoke and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” — Matthew 11:28-30 (CSB)

“For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” — Romans 8:38-39 (CSB)

“Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:6-7 (CSB)

“There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears is not complete in love.” — 1 John 4:18 (CSB)

In Matthew 6:25-26, Jesus told His disciples: “Don’t worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Isn’t life more than food and the body more than clothing” (CSB)?

“Consider the birds of the sky,” He continued. “They don’t sow or reap or gather into barns, yet your Heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they?”

***As the number of voices facing big-tech censorship continues to grow, please sign up for Faithwire’s daily newsletter and download the CBN News app, developed by our parent company, to stay up-to-date with the latest news from a distinctly Christian perspective.***

Latest

  • Faith

    ‘Thank God He Was There’: Off-Duty Firefighter Says It Was the Lord Who Led Him to Save Deputy Hurt in Crash

  • News

    ‘Kind of a Miracle’: Storm Chaser Rescues Family After Tornado, Pledges to Help Rebuild Home After Terrifying Ordeal

  • News

    Amid ‘Hidden Dangers That Lurk’ in Culture, Christian Video Games Could Offer Parents a Powerful Solution

  • News

    All-American Swimmer Blasts ESPN for Promoting Transgender Athlete in ‘Celebrating Women’s History Month’

  • News

    ‘Dear Jesus, Please Help Them’: Meteorologist Credited With Saving Lives After Viral, On-Air Prayer to God as Deadly Tornado Hit


Sponsored
Sponsored

Newsletter
Signup

Sidebar

Recent Posts

  • ‘Thank God He Was There’: Off-Duty Firefighter Says It Was the Lord Who Led Him to Save Deputy Hurt in Crash
  • ‘Kind of a Miracle’: Storm Chaser Rescues Family After Tornado, Pledges to Help Rebuild Home After Terrifying Ordeal
  • Amid ‘Hidden Dangers That Lurk’ in Culture, Christian Video Games Could Offer Parents a Powerful Solution
  • All-American Swimmer Blasts ESPN for Promoting Transgender Athlete in ‘Celebrating Women’s History Month’
  • ‘Dear Jesus, Please Help Them’: Meteorologist Credited With Saving Lives After Viral, On-Air Prayer to God as Deadly Tornado Hit

Archives

  • March 2023
  • February 2023
  • January 2023
  • December 2022
  • November 2022
  • October 2022
  • September 2022
  • August 2022
  • July 2022
  • June 2022
  • May 2022
  • April 2022
  • March 2022
  • February 2022
  • January 2022
  • December 2021
  • November 2021
  • October 2021
  • September 2021
  • August 2021
  • July 2021
  • June 2021
  • May 2021
  • April 2021
  • March 2021
  • February 2021
  • January 2021
  • December 2020
  • November 2020
  • October 2020
  • September 2020
  • August 2020
  • July 2020
  • June 2020
  • May 2020
  • April 2020
  • March 2020
  • February 2020
  • January 2020
  • December 2019
  • November 2019
  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • March 2018
  • February 2018
  • January 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016

Categories

  • Christian Persecution
  • Coronavirus
  • Culture
  • culture
  • Entertainment
  • Faith
  • Faith
  • Family
  • George Floyd
  • Go!
  • Israel
  • Life
  • Life
  • Lifestyle
  • Media
  • Men
  • Mission Haiti
  • News
  • News
  • Opinion
  • P.O.V
  • Politics
  • Politics
  • Roe
  • Sponsored
  • Sports
  • Virtue
  • Women

Meta

  • Log in
  • Entries feed
  • Comments feed
  • WordPress.org

Navigation

  • Watch
  • Go!
  • Podcasts
  • Newsletter
  • Contact Us
  • Staff
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Service

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Instagram

Subscribe to the Newsletter

Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day.

Newsletter Signup

Do you want to read
more articles like this?