Learning the Calm in the Storm

By: Rick Schmidt

A few months ago, we went through the process of doing our HealthCheck360. The day of mine came around, and I was running from meeting to meeting. I don’t know what the circumstances were, but I ended up being late. I called to let them know I would be there, but I was behind. We get into the examination room, and the first thing they do is take my blood pressure. Now, not to get into my history, but my blood pressure has never been great. Well, same result. I kind of roll my eyes because, in my mind, I know the Health Coach will ask me about it. Sure enough, on my call with the Health Coach, I get the question that I have been dreading: “So I see that your blood pressure is high. Would you say you have a stressful job?” This is when I start chuckling to myself. In about two seconds, all the scenarios were running through my head—the different lawsuits that are going on, accidents that have taken place, Crucial Conversations that have/will happen. It felt like the list went on. I chuckled as I told the coach, “I work in HR and Safety for a trucking company. It can get stressful.” You could tell she was chuckling along with me as she agreed. Then she asked, “How do you manage stress?” And I replied simply, “Okay.”

The point here is not to discuss my health and how I could do a better job managing it. But over the last few months, that question has stuck with me through different life events: How do I handle stress?

If you asked my wife, she would say that I do a pretty good job of this. You take a look at my blood pressure and what my body is telling me, and you might reach a different conclusion.

This question (and a series of events at work and in life) has caused a very busy start to 2025—one that I question if I am handling well. I have gotten the privilege to work with MANY of you! Through that, I have learned that we all have something going on—something that is occupying our time, mind, and energy. For some, it could be the joy of a newborn child—joyful, yet stressful. Others might be stressed with things breaking down at the house, and thinking, “How in the world will I have time to replace all of it?”

Philippians 4:4–7 says:
“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

What stands out to you when you read those verses? To me, it was that I can take any situation to God, and the peace of God will guard your hearts and minds. This doesn’t mean you will necessarily get the answer you want. It may take longer than you want—but the peace of GOD, who understands ALL things, will guard your heart.

Maybe you’re that person who creates a list/task for everything, so you constantly have a list that you cannot possibly keep up with. Maybe you’re a little more “free-flowing,” like me, and all of a sudden, it feels like seven things pop up out of nowhere. Are there steps we can take on our own to be more efficient? Yes. But are there times or areas in life when situations just hit, and we don’t know how we will walk through this? Yes.

Remember Philippians 4: The Lord is near, and in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. You are not alone!