Stress touches all of us — from tight schedules to financial pressure to the everyday chaos of work and family. But peace is possible, even in small daily choices. One of the best ways I’ve learned to manage stress is by creating space for prayer and worship each morning. You don’t need anything fancy, and you don’t need to keep spending money on $6 coffees that only add to the pressure. Brew a simple cup of tea at home — my favorite is Little Prayer Tea’s Lemon Drop blend, which is quick to steep and so calming — then sit down for 10–15 minutes with God.
To help you, I’ve created this free tool:
•Start your morning with this Worship Playlist that’s filled with songs to calm your heart and focus your mind.
Even if you’re commuting, you can pour your tea into a travel mug, press play on the playlist, and take your prayer guide with you. Just a few intentional minutes can shift your whole day.
Worship Shifts Your Focus Off the Problem
Stress often magnifies whatever feels wrong in the moment. Worship flips that lens. Instead of obsessing over the problem, worship helps us focus on the Problem-Solver. Whether it’s in your car, your kitchen, or during a quiet evening walk, worship changes the atmosphere.
Play a song from your Morning Worship Playlist, sip your tea, and breathe. The act of worship engages the same part of the brain that prayer activates — the part linked to peace and relief. It’s more than just music; it’s an invitation for God’s presence to meet you right where you are.
Take It One Step at a Time with God’s Guidance
One of the greatest stress relievers is learning to slow down and focus on what’s truly in front of you. Jesus taught us to pray, “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matthew 6:11). Notice He didn’t say tomorrow’s bread, or next week’s bread — just today. Stress multiplies when we try to carry too much at once.
Start your mornings by asking God: “Lord, what is the one thing You want me to focus on today?” Sometimes it means paying attention to your child instead of the laundry. Other times, it means saying no to extra commitments that drain you. His thoughts toward you are good (Jeremiah 29:11), and He knows the right order for your steps.
When you posture your heart to listen, He’ll guide you with peace instead of pressure. Instead of trying to control every detail, learn to release your own timeline. His ways are higher than our ways (Isaiah 55:8–9). Trust Him to lead you one step at a time.
Learn to Say No and Accept Help
One of the greatest sources of stress is overcommitting. Sometimes our intentions are good—we want to help, impress, or simply avoid disappointing others—but the truth is, saying “yes” to everything often leaves us drained and resentful. Remember what Jesus said: “My yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:30). If the weight you’re carrying feels crushing, it may be because you’ve picked up burdens God never asked you to carry.
Saying no is not a sin. It’s wisdom. It’s better to prayerfully commit to what you can truly handle than to stretch yourself thin. Ask God to show you where to shift priorities. Sometimes that means letting the laundry wait or declining an extra project at work.
And don’t forget—God places people around you to help. Let your children take responsibility for their own chores instead of doing it all yourself. Lean on your family or your church family when you need support. Allowing others to help isn’t weakness; it’s humility and balance. Stress lifts when you stop trying to carry it all alone.
Practice Gratitude and Patience
Stress often multiplies when we focus on what we don’t have or try to force things in our own timing. God’s Word reminds us that His thoughts toward us are good, and His ways are higher than ours (Isaiah 55:8–9). Choosing gratitude shifts your perspective—it keeps your heart anchored in what God has already done instead of being consumed by what still feels undone.
Take a few minutes each day to write down three things you’re thankful for, no matter how small. Gratitude doesn’t erase challenges, but it changes the way you face them. Patience works hand in hand with gratitude. When you pray, don’t rush the answer—trust God to bring peace in His timing. Sometimes the delay is actually God protecting or preparing you.
Remember, waiting is not wasted when you wait on the Lord. As Isaiah 40:31 promises, “those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength.”
Rest in God’s Peace
One of the most powerful ways to reduce stress is to rest in God’s peace—not just physically resting, but allowing your spirit to quiet down in His presence. Jesus reminds us in Matthew 11:28–30 that His yoke is easy and His burden is light. That means the weight we feel when we’re overwhelmed often isn’t coming from Him, but from expectations we or others have placed on us.
Learning to release control and trust God’s plan brings freedom. Stress grows in the soil of self-reliance, but peace grows in surrender. Create intentional moments in your day to breathe, pray, and remind yourself that God is with you. Even five minutes of stillness with Him can reset your entire outlook.
When you lay your burdens at His feet, you’ll discover a peace that truly “surpasses all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).
God’s Plan Is Peace
Stress is part of life, but it doesn’t have to control your life. God doesn’t want you to live anxious, stressed, or overwhelmed. His plan is designed to bring peace, hope, and “an expected end” (Jeremiah 29:11). When you choose worship, take things one step at a time, learn to say no, practice gratitude, and rest in His presence, you align yourself with His rhythm. The result isn’t chaos, but calm.
You don’t have to carry it all on your own. God has given you the tools—and the community—to walk in peace even in the middle of life’s storms.
If this encouraged you, don’t walk away empty-handed. Download my Worship Playlist to calm anxiety and find peace and subscribe to my newsletter for weekly faith-based encouragement and tools to help you find God’s peace in everyday life.
And when you sit down for that quiet moment with Him, try a calming cup of Little Prayer Tea. It’s one of my favorite ways to invite peace into my space and remind myself to slow down and breathe.
