Sermon Tone Analysis

Graduation from High School is a very exciting time.

However, the excitement also comes with a ton of stress.

While graduation, whether it’s from college, high school, middle school or even Kindergarten can bring excitement, relief and the start of big new plans, for many graduates it also can bring up uncertainty, insecurities and a sense of loss.

This is what some refer to as transitional stress.

The lowest stress levels are recorded in adults older than 72.80% of millennials are stressed about money, as millennials stress statistics show.

Teenagers report a stress level of 5.8 out of 10 during the school year.

One in five college students has thought about suicide.

China has seen the highest rise in workplace stress—86%.83% of Americans are worried about the future of the nation.

Nearly 25% of people report feeling extreme stress during the holidays.

45% of college students seek counseling due to stress.

Around 70% of students are often or always stressed about schoolwork.

About 14% of US citizens exercise regularly to handle stress.

Around 77% of employees experience physical effects of stress.

(Safety Management)

Many people feel the effects of stress at work.

Of them, 73% experience psychological symptoms, as per stats on stress.

Moreover, 26% of employees are frequently burned out or stressed at work.

Another 29% report that their jobs are very stressful, and 25% find their jobs to be the leading causes of stress.

Burnout is recognized as a chronic condition by the World Health Organization.

(WHO)

Stress-related burnout isn’t just an excuse to miss work.

Stats about stress in the workplace show that its effects are severe.

More specifically, burnout is characterized by exhaustion, a negative attitude towards one’s job, and a sense of unproductiveness.

Money and work were the most common and significant stressors in 2015.

(APA)

More specifically, money is a source of stress for 67% of the respondents in the APA research.

Work is right behind, with 65% of those affected, statistics on stress disclose.

Another finding highlights that adults are likely to find personal health concerns, the economy, family responsibilities, and health problems affecting the family stressful.

What Is Stressing America Out?

COVID-19 Pandemic - 78%

Health care - 66%

Mass shootings - 62%

Climate change - 55%

High suicide rates - 51%

Immigration - 47%

Sexual harassment - 47%

Opioid/heroin epidemic - 45%

83% of Americans are worried about the future of the nation.

(APA)

More than eight in ten US citizens have these worries, based on the APA’s most recent survey.

What’s more, more than seven in ten people in the US, or 72% of its population, claimed it [2020] was the lowest point in the country’s history.

None of us are immune to stress!

55 % of Americans are stressed during the day.

75% of Pastors report being extremely stressed.

90% of Pastors feel frustrated and worn out every single week.

78% of Pastors are sometimes forced to resign from their church.

80% of Pastors will not be in ministry 10 years later.

Seminary trained pastors only last 5 years in the ministry.

91% have experienced some form of burnout

75% - 90% of all doctor visits are from ministry stress related illnesses.

The most common symptoms of stress include irritability, frustration, and moodiness.

(WebMD)

Stress awareness facts emphasize that stress is a serious issue.

Some of the most common stress symptoms are feeling overwhelmed and having low-self esteem.

You are also likely to have headaches, chest pain, insomnia, and low energy.

All of these affect our day-to-day life.

Chronic Stress attributes to Heart Problems, High Blood Pressure, Headaches, Mental Conditions, and Anxiety.

Let me Define Stress

Stress is the gap between what we face and what we think we can face.

Difference between what we can do verses what we think we can do = Stress factor, what we ought to do and we think we can’t do.

Listen

Stress is Always Determined by what a Person BELIEVES!

As graduates and just generally stressed individuals, I want to speak to you about what can do and what we should do to relieve stress in our lives.

It comes right here in Isaiah 40.

Look with me at verses 25-26

Isaiah 40:25–26 (KJV 1900)

25 To whom then will ye liken me, or shall I be equal?

saith the Holy One.

26 Lift up your eyes on high, And behold who hath created these things, That bringeth out their host by number: He calleth them all by names By the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; Not one faileth.

Look up to the Omnipotent God.

Omnipotent - someone whose controlling influence over reality is unlimited;

When we speak of Omnipotence or Almighty, we are only referencing God.

Causes the Stars to Shine

“who bringeth out their host by number”

The average person on the darkest clearest night can at most see 9,000 stars with the bare eyes.

In our galaxy, there are nearly 100 billion stars.

There are estimated at over 10 trillion galaxies.

If each galaxy has 100 billion stars, then we have an estimation of around 1 septillion stars or to put that in perspective, it is 1 with 24 zeros behind it.

1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000

Calls the Stars by Name

“He calleth them all by name”

Not only has God exhibited His power by creating 1 septillion stars, but He has named each and every one.

If God has shown enough interest in the even giving the stars their names, how much more does he care for you, who was created in His image.

Controls the Stars Orbits

“not one faileth”

Not only has God exhibited His power by creating 1 septillion stars, not only has He named each and every one, but this is exciting, not a single one has functioned outside the laws that He established.

It is His power and His power alone that established the laws of the universe that keep the stars functioning according to those laws.

Again the LORD is far greater than any being in the entire universe.

He alone is the Holy One, totally set apart and distinct from all other beings.

When you get stressed because of what you need to do, then take a deep breath and head outside at night and look up and see all the stars doing what God created and commanded them to do and REMIND Yourself of God’s Omnipotent, Almighty Power.

The universe did not happen by chance.

It has been created by the Holy One, the Supreme Being who is totally set apart from all other beings in the universe.

If God has such a firm grasp on the universe, do you believe He can handle your problem.

Now, Look at

Isaiah 40:27–29 (KJV 1900)

27 Why sayest thou, O Jacob, and speakest, O Israel, My way is hid from the Lord, And my judgment is passed over from my God?

28 Hast thou not known?

hast thou not heard, That the everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Fainteth not, neither is weary?

There is no searching of his understanding.

29 He giveth power to the faint; And to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Listen to the Omniscient God.