Page 17 - EMCAPP-Journal No. 14

of stress can be seen to produce Godly bene- of stress was not present. Either way, stress was
fit (Heb. 12: 10-11). Even in the secular litera- sure to follow. In the moment that their “eyes
ture, there is evidence that stress and trauma were opened” (Gen. 3:7), they felt the change
can have benefits for people (Park, Cohen, & and certainly the stress of the new awareness
Murch, 1996). Though like a reframe, the diffe- of guilt and shame was experienced. From that
rence is that trust in God allows the stressor to point forward, the weight of decision making
have spiritual benefit. The person without the would be with humankind. It would mean that
spirit cannot envision this. decisions could have bad consequences and the
Not all stressors are equally stressful or dama- person making the decision would be respon-
ging and being stressed repeatedly in small sible. There is often heavy weight – stress – that
ways may be as damaging as more catastrophic is experienced with this reality. Furthermore,
events. Ongoing daily hassles can impact our the stress of guilt and shame that accompanies
health as negatively as large catastrophic stres- a sinful choice would become a reality. In a lost
sors and, in some ways, may even be worse as condition, man’s dead spirit disconnects him
they wear down the physical and psychological from God. Yet, because of the innate spiritual
defenses that ward off illness. Ongoing stress we nature of the human creature, it is possible to
live with because of lifestyles, either within or ask questions about meaning. Unfortunately,
out of our control can wear on us. This was the meaning is often sought in things other than
point Selye (1976) and Maté (2003) made. We God. The search for meaning does not necessa-
must consider the ways we drive ourselves and rily lead to finding meaning. Frankl (1984/1946)
instead pursue lifestyles that incorporate balan- referred to this as existential frustration. Jang’s
ce and rest. research (2016) confirmed Frankl’s ideas. His
data showed that it is possible that a search
Theologically, the problem of stress may be tra- for meaning can be related to distress, but if
ced to the original garden. The man and wo- meaning is found, as is often the case in reli-
man were given a choice in the garden. What gious experiences, the distress is dispelled. Fin-
is not known is whether in their pre-fall nature ding meaning in life reduces distress. However,
they experienced the stress of choice. From an if a person engages in a religious experience but
existential point of view, our own freedom can fails to find meaning in it, then distress or an-
bring anxiety and stress. Upon grasping the re- xiety will likely not decrease. Jang’s (2016) work
sponsibility persons have with freedom, the fear provides a steppingstone to further explore exi-
of failure or the anxiety over potential outcomes stential meaning and its relationship to distress.
of a choice can lead to feeling stressed. It is not
unusual to listen to my students or clients la- From the biblical narrative of the fall, a coup-
ment over having to decide between different le things stand out. First, the stress of the guilt
jobs, to marry a person or not, to break up or led to covering and hiding. The couple cove-
not, or even to make a move across the country red their nakedness and they hid from God. In
for a new job. In these cases, personal intentio- this example, the couple did what humans have
nal sin is not the problem. In each of these ca- been doing since that monumental time in hi-
ses, the angst of the responsibility for the choice story – hide. Hiding and covering are ways to
is experienced. Change creates the state of the deal with stress and are a cause of stress. Of-
unknown. Change is scary. Knowing that one is ten the ways we avoid issues in our lives only
responsible for their choices and the outcome of leads to more stress. Avoidance and withdrawal
the choices is a heavy burden for some people. are only short-term solutions but generally can
In the garden, the freedom to choose was given lead to the experience of more stress.
to the man and woman. It is interesting to consi- In Genesis 3:17-19, God spoke to the man and
der if the pre-fall couple experienced stress over told him he would be engaged in painful toil
the choice. The scripture is quiet on this topic. (Gen. 3:17). Pain will also accompany the birth
It is entirely speculative that Eve may have felt of children (Gen. 3:16). The areas of life desi-
stress. Perhaps in her gullibility, the experience gned to be blessings, relationships and work,

15