In Stress Awareness Month, Nate Jones blends biblical wisdom and practical advice to help families support children through life’s overwhelming moments
Children and young people today face many pressures from exams and friendships to social media and uncertainty about the future. National Stress Awareness month gives us an opportunity to pause and think about how we can help them understand stress and learn healthy ways to cope. As Christians, we also have the hope and wisdom of faith to guide them through life’s more overwhelming moments.
Stress can feel much like that river. At times life flows gently; at other times pressure builds; and sometimes it can feel as though everything is coming at us at once
When life becomes overwhelming
“The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he restores my soul.”
Psalm 23:1–3 (NIV)
Psalm 23 paints one of the most peaceful pictures in the Bible: green pastures, quiet waters, and a shepherd who gently cares for his sheep. It is an image of calm, safety and restoration.
Yet life does not always feel like that.
Just like the River Wye close to where I live, sometimes life flows slowly and peacefully. There are seasons when things feel manageable, calm and even refreshing. At other times that river becomes a rushing torrent, faster, muddier and more frightening. Occasionally it bursts its banks altogether, flooding everything around us and leaving us feeling overwhelmed.
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Stress can feel much like that river. At times life flows gently; at other times pressure builds; and sometimes it can feel as though everything is coming at us at once.
For children and young people growing up today, those pressures can be very real. So how can we help them understand stress and cope with it in healthy, practical and faith-filled ways?
What can cause stress for young people?
Stress is a natural response when life begins to feel pressured or overwhelming. It often happens when we experience something new, uncertain or outside our control, or when several pressures build up at once.
Young people today face many possible sources of stress, including:
- exams and academic pressure
- friendship difficulties or bullying
- pressures from social media and online content
- worries about appearance or identity
- family changes such as divorce or bereavement
- balancing school, activities and expectations
- uncertainty about the future
- moving house or starting a new school
Recognising these pressures helps us as adults respond with empathy rather than assuming young people are simply “overreacting”.
Recognising the signs of stress
Stress can appear in many different ways.
Some physical signs might include:
- headaches or stomach aches
- tense muscles
- nausea or dizziness
- difficulty sleeping
Faith does not remove every stressful situation from life, but it reminds us that we do not face life’s pressures alone
There may also be emotional signs such as:
- anxiety or fear
- irritability or anger
- sadness or frustration
- feeling overwhelmed
Sometimes stress also appears in behaviour:
- struggling to concentrate
- withdrawing from others
- snapping at family members
- changes in eating or sleeping patterns
- avoiding certain situations
Helping young people understand what stress is, where it comes from and what the signs are can help them make sense of what they are experiencing.
What Jesus says about worry
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus gives teaching about worry that can sometimes feel difficult to hear: “Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” (Matthew 6:34)
At first, hearing those words can feel quite difficult. After all, telling someone not to worry does not make their worries disappear. But Jesus is not dismissing our concerns. Instead, He invites us to place our trust in God rather than allowing the worries and stresses of life to take control. He reminds His listeners that God cares for the birds of the air and the flowers of the field, and how much more He cares for us.
The apostle Peter echoes this encouragement: “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
Faith does not remove every stressful situation from life, but it reminds us that we do not face life’s pressures alone. These verses also encourage us to step back, gain perspective and find healthier ways to respond. So, what might some of these be?
The power of real conversations
One of the most important ways we can support young people is simply by being available to listen. In a world where many instinctively turn to search engines or even artificial intelligence for answers, real conversations with real people matter more than ever.
Parents, grandparents, teachers and youth leaders offer something technology cannot: empathy, understanding and wisdom that comes from walking through life ourselves.
Listening well is one of the greatest gifts we can give a young person
Sometimes the most powerful words we can say are simply: “Tell me what’s going on.”
Listening well is one of the greatest gifts we can give a young person. Enabling them to talk, helps them to get the muddle of thoughts and emotions out of their heads, helping them to gain self-understanding, perspective and find solutions. It also helps us to know how we can support them. So, ask “What do you need from me right now”?
Caring for body, mind and soul
When someone is under stress, caring for their overall wellbeing becomes especially important.
Encourage young people to:
- get enough sleep
- eat balanced meals
- spend time away from screens
- stay physically active
- participate in hobbies or activities they enjoy.
Exercise can release endorphins that improve mood and reduce stress. Even a short walk can help clear the mind. Spending time outdoors can also be restorative. Perhaps this is part of what the Psalmist meant when describing God leading us beside quiet waters.
Seeking help is not a sign of failure, it is often the first step towards healing
Creating space for stillness
Faith practices can help bring calm when life feels overwhelming. Encourage young people to:
- pray honestly about their worries
- spend time reading scripture
- listen to worship music
- sit quietly for a few moments of stillness
Psalm 46 reminds us: “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10)
Sometimes slowing down and remembering God’s presence can bring much-needed perspective.
Simple ways to reduce stress
There are also practical ways young people can manage stress day-to-day. These might include:
- breaking big tasks into smaller steps, especially during exam periods
- breathing exercises or relaxation techniques to calm the body
- limiting screen time, particularly before sleep
- practising gratitude and noticing positive things in life
- planning ahead for stressful events
- tackling unrealistic expectations
- putting on hold anything that doesn’t need dealing with at this time
Talking through challenges and making simple plans can help young people regain a sense of control.
The importance of community
Supportive relationships are one of the strongest protections against stress. Time with friends, family, church communities or youth groups reminds young people that they belong and are supported. It can be tempting to withdraw when life is difficult, but spending time with others often helps lighten the load.
When extra help is needed
Sometimes stress becomes overwhelming and additional support may be needed. If a young person seems persistently distressed or unable to cope, it may be helpful to speak with a teacher, counsellor or doctor. There are also many organisations and websites that provide guidance and support for young people dealing with stress in general as well as specific issues such as exam stress, anxiety or bereavement – that may need a more specific approach.
Seeking help is not a sign of failure, it is often the first step towards healing.
The shepherd who restores our souls
The scriptures remind us that God is not distant from our struggles. He is the shepherd who walks beside us through every season of life. Sometimes He leads us beside quiet waters.
Sometimes He walks with us through darker valleys. But in every moment He remains present, guiding and restoring.
By listening, encouraging, supporting and praying, we help them find their way through life’s more overwhelming moments
Perhaps one of the greatest gifts we can offer children and young people is the reassurance that they do not have to carry life’s pressures alone.
God cares for them, and we can show that care too. He walks beside them, and we can walk beside them.
By listening, encouraging, supporting and praying, we help them find their way through life’s more overwhelming moments. And in time they may discover for themselves the promise of Psalm 23: that even in life’s most stressful seasons, the Lord is the shepherd who restores our souls.
A prayer
Father God,
When life feels busy and overwhelming, help us to slow down and trust in your care.
Guide the children and young people in our lives, lead them beside quiet waters, and restore their souls. Help us to walk alongside them with love, wisdom and faith. Help us to provide them with the care they need and the words to say. Enable them to find ways that will bring them to a place of calm and closeness to you.
Amen.
