Although, I am a very blessed woman, I just like others, have to go through my share of trials and tribulations. Some of my trials and tribulations consist of losing my grandson, Chris, who played football for the Miami Hurricanes and enrolled in a graduate school, died in a car accident in February of 2002.
Another drastic event that I had to encounter, was losing my oldest son, Elder Willie Searcy, to a battle of cancer. Willie, was the founder of the Marantha Church of God in Christ, located in Mt. Pleasant, Texas.
Two years later, (2006) death came and took my husband, Milton Mims; he died of heart problems. It was during these trying times that stress had entered my life. I realized that my heartaches and all that pain inside, was too much for me to handle.
Therefore, I began to ask myself, What is stress? Stress is a force, pressure, and strain that produces a change in one's life, which is what I had experienced. All of those bad things (death of loved ones) that happened to me, brought about a change in my life; I began feeling frustrated, unhappy, and very overwhelmed. Because of the stress, my daily life was affected greatly.
I started making bad decisions and could not handle or deal with daily tasks. At that time, I did not understand why I couldn't function as I normally did in the past, especially with the simplest thing in my life; but now, I know it was stress, which does dramatically affect the mind and body, and makes it harder to cope with everyday living. I had allowed stress to take over to the point, where I couldn't thank God, because I thought he had forgotten me.
I felt helpless, and didn't think I could rely on anyone. So, I began to go to the doctor, who would inform me that I was "Just under a lot of stress, as well as a state of depression," which I didn't want to accept. It was hard for me to believe it was stress, that was making my life so miserable. Needless to say, the doctor gave me some medications, which didn't make me feel better; actually, it made me feel worse.
I began to loose weight, because I didn't have any desire or appetite to eat. I almost gave up on my health; I would just lay around the house, and isolated myself from everyone. But, thank God for deliverance.
One day a missionary came to my house, and laid hands on me, and prayed for my deliverance. I began to realize that God had sent me a message through this woman. God was telling me how to get my life back in order, because he was not through with me yet. He was telling me how to eliminate stress, and start living again. God stepped in, right on time, as he always has. God told me to "Go to church at noon everyday and pray, and lay before him." I was to read his word and continually praise him and lift him up - give Him the Glory. He put his words in my mouth to speak to his people.
When he gave me the answer that I had been seeking, I decided that I would not live a stressful life. I knew that I now had a way out from under the devil's - stress, which was through God's word. The Word says, " I will not leave you nor forsake you, Lo, I am with you always even unto the end of the world." (Matt.28:20).
It was then, my sleep began to change in the direction that God guided. I began sleeping on my Bible, anointing myself and speaking God's words to the stress demons. Yet, it seemed like the more I spoke God's word, the more the mountain of stress would try to build. It was then and there, that I made up my mind that the devil is a liar, and that God's words work. "Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God that you maybe able to withstand." (Ephesians 6:13-14). I found out that the enemy yields only to what he must, and what is taken. Therefore, the ground must be taken.
God's word gave me the authority, to take my life back. He let me know the scriptures can't be broken. I continued to pray everyday, and read other books on God's healing. I did these things, because healing was what I needed. Every morning and night, I would read God's word and quote it. I had to learn through his word. There are many people who are saved and stressed out, because they aren't taking care of their bodies and mind. They need to learn to relax, and meditate on God's words.
By: Mrs. Margine Mims
Founder of the Black Community Scholarship Foundation
