Dealing With Dystress

DEALING WITH DYSTRESS

by Andrew Corbett

How does the Lord deal with people who are suffering dystress? Consider the examples of Moses- Num. 11; David- Psalms 32, 23; Paul- 2Cor. 4:7-15; 12:7-10; Rom. 8:18-27, the widow of Nain- Luke 7:11-15.

MOSES:

Moses heard the people of every family wailing, each at the entrance to his tent. The LORD became exceedingly angry, and Moses was troubled. He asked the LORD, "Why have you brought this trouble on your servant? What have I done to displease you that you put the burden of all these people on me? Did I conceive all these people? Did I give them birth? Why do you tell me to carry them in my arms, as a nurse carries an infant, to the land you promised on oath to their forefathers? Where can I get meat for all these people? They keep wailing to me, 'Give us meat to eat!' I cannot carry all these people by myself; the burden is too heavy for me.
Numbers 11:10-14

The interesting observation about the problem that Moses was experiencing, was that it was felt by God himself. It was not handled by God in the same way that Moses was handling it. God’s response to the problem was to become angry. Moses’ response was to feel troubled or dystressed. The precipitating event of Moses’ troubles resulted from the people complaining about his lack of leadership in not providing meat for them. Presuming that there were about three million Israelites all demanding meat or threatening to return to Egypt if they didn’t get it, Moses would have felt tremendous stress.

Moses brought his dystress to the LORD. He told the LORD about the people’s demands and threats regarding meat. He then told the LORD how he was feeling. He told the LORD that the burden that he was carrying was too great for him alone to bear. Even though the LORD was angry with the people because of their demands and complaints, He gave them their request. He also solved the problem that Moses felt was too heavy for him. God instructed him to gather seventy elders on whom He would pour out His Spirit to empower them to take some of the burden off Moses.
Thus we see that Moses brought his (dystress) stressors to God in prayer. We then observe that God in a very practical way answered Moses’ prayers. God relieved Moses dystress by providing what Moses said he needed. This was despite God’s provision looking impossible. We are reminded by this and other Biblical incidents, that our God is able to supply all our needs according to His riches in glory (Phil. 4:19). The pressure of the cost of living is often a stressor in our own lives. Even though the situation looked impossible to Moses it was not impossible for God.

DAVID
The account of David’s dystress in Psalm 32 occurs after his adultery with Bathsheba. He describes the agony he experienced while he tried to hide his sin from God. God’s response to David’s dystress was conditional upon his seeking forgiveness. While David held onto his dystress his bones wasted away (vs 3). The Bible gives us the insight that negative stress is also negative for our health!

God still cared about David despite David’s stress being self-inflicted. No matter whether the dystress we experience is a result of our own foolishness, or other circumstances, we can be assured that God cares. As with Moses, when David was suffering dystress he turned to the LORD. The LORD forgave his offence and restored David into fellowship with Him. This resulted in divine wisdom and counsel for David in his circumstances (vs. 8). This is also echoed in Psalm 23.

No doubt written much earlier than Psalm 32, Psalm 23 shows David finding that the LORD is able to lead his child out through stressful circumstances. In the midst of dark, stressful times (the valley of the shadow of death) David found that the LORD comforted him. The LORD did this by use of the rod and staff. We understand these to be the main pieces of a shepherd’s equipment. The rod was used for disciplining sheep, and the staff used to guide them. In this way we see David finding the LORD disciplining and guiding him through dystress as he sought the LORD. We too can be assured that the LORD will discipline and guide us through stressful circumstances as we seek Him.

PAUL
Paul certainly knew what stress was all about. He describes in Second Corinthians (4:7-15) some of the stress that he was going through as a minister of the gospel. Because of the grace revealed in the New Covenant, Paul was assured that his dystress would one day be replaced by glory with Christ (vs. 17). He saw a positive result from the stress that he was going through. Firstly, it was putting his old nature to death, and then renewing the life of Christ within him (vs. 10). From this we see that stress, when responded to correctly, can produce beneficial outcomes.

Again in the Second Corinthians 12:7-10 passage, Paul sees the stress of ministry as beneficial when it forced him to draw on the strength of Christ rather than his own strength. In this instance, the stressors appeared to be outside of Paul’s control. Yet his response is the same as when he had a choice to be in the midst of other stressful circumstances: he looked to God. These same thoughts are echoed in Romans 8:18-27.

Therefore we see the LORD dealing with Paul during his time of dystress as giving him strength to endure, and hope to persevere. As with the other examples of men of God, God’s dealings with Paul in the midst of his dystress was as a response to him calling out to the LORD.

WIDOW OF NAIN
The example of the Lord ministering to the widow of Nain has to be one of the most compassionate examples of God intervening into someone’s dystress in all Scripture (Luke 7:11-15). There are other examples in Scripture of the LORD raising the dead. What distinguishes this case from them is that it was a widow, and Christ was personally involved and physically present.

Perhaps the woman knew of Christ and His reputation for miracles. Perhaps she and Christ exchanged glances. If this is the case, then she literally looked to the LORD for help in the midst of her dystress. The response of the LORD to her dystress was to grant her the desire of her heart: the resuscitation of her son. From this we observe that the LORD is moved by our dystress and is prepared to intervene with an act of His grace.

Amen.