Don't Lose Your Marbles- Develop Stress Management Skills Part 3

We’re in the middle of a series on developing stress management skills. To read Part 1, click here. To read Part 2, click here.

No matter how skilled a player is in the game of Marbles, they don’t play the same game forever. At the end of the day they pick up their marbles and go home for the night. They know that no matter how today’s game went, they can play again tomorrow.

Over the last two weeks, we’ve examined a number of ways to help us improve our life game of Marbles but none are as crucial as those in today’s final installment. If we don’t master these our game is sure to be lost.   

Take Care of Your Marbles

·       RESToration takes Effort: Even the God of all of creation set aside a day to rest. Without rest there can be no restoration. The proper amount of sleep is crucial to both our physical and mental health. We never catch up on lost sleep. If you need eight hours, get eight hours. Don’t fight against your system. If you need less, you are fortunate; put the time to balanced use. But giving yourself less than you need is a sure way to keep your marbles from rolling smoothly.

And he said to them, “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while”. Mark 6:31a

·       Give Yourself a Time Out: Take time out for yourself. Do something that you enjoy, that’s fun for you. It may be reading a book while you soak in the tub, going to the movies with a friend, or climbing a rock wall. Whatever gives you joy, gives you energy. It’s not selfish to take time for yourself. It’s necessary maintenance. You need to rest your shooting arm in order to play again tomorrow.

I will refresh the weary and satisfy the faint. Jeremiah 31:25

·       Plug in Frequently: The morning shouldn’t be the only time you plug in to God’s energy. Our marbles can only hold a charge for a limited time. Reconnect with the ultimate power source throughout the day. No matter what you are doing, commune with Him through praise and prayer. It will keep you focused on His priorities and your energy charged.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer Romans 12:12

Have the Ultimate Shooter

·       The shooter marble is the source of strength in any game of marbles.  Without a powerful one, a player is at a huge disadvantage. There will be times in life when storms come, no matter how well we prepare and plan. Crisis comes in a moment and tragedy without warning to all of us. In those times, failure is imminent if we rely upon our marbles—our strength—for we are finite creatures, but God is infinite. Always choose God for your shooter: through His strength you can do all things. And with God in your bag, you’ll never lose your marbles. 

May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy   Colossians 1:11