The Stress Of Not Knowing

The Stress Of Not Knowing

“Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27

The National Institute of Mental Health once conducted an experiment to determine the impact of the truth upon human stress levels. Four groups of soldiers were assigned the same fast-paced march. When the march was over, each soldier’s blood was tested for the level of stress hormones. The only variable was how much truth each group was told about the march.

Group 1 was told the whole truth about the march before it started. Group 2 was told the march would be 14 kilometers long, but then were surprised when 6 more kilometers were added. Group 3 received changing information throughout the march. Group 4 was given no information at all.

Guess who had the lowest stress level at the end of the march? Group 1. And why? Because, as the head of the experiment concluded, “Hope, kept alive by knowing the truth, slows down the production of harmful hormones created by mental stress.”

Man’s greatest stress comes from not knowing the truth about what’s going to happen – especially after death. The Bible tells us that God gives us all the truth in His Son, Jesus, who is “the truth” (Jn. 14:6). And Jesus tells us the whole truth: “In My Father’s house are many rooms ... I am going there to prepare a place for you ... I will come back and take you to be with Me” (Jn. 14:2-3). Paul wrote that those who don’t know the truth of Jesus’ Resurrection “are to be pitied more than all men” (1 Cor. 15:19).

None of us has to suffer the stress of not knowing where we’re going after death. The Bible tells the whole truth about the end of this march called life. If you’re suffering from the stress of not knowing, read the Bible, beginning with the Gospel of John. And of course, we can help relieve your stress!

By Larry Ondrejack