Would anyone argue with me that stress is a significant killer in our society? Stress takes a terrible toll. Have you ever noticed how much presidents seem to age while they are in office? It is no illusion. 

Investigators at the University of Cape Breton in Nova Scotia compared the age at death of 162 presidents and prime ministers with their age when they came to power. Those who took office at a young age died about nine years earlier than leaders who seized the reins later in life. The same held true for Supreme Court justices, Nobel Prize winners, and popes. (1)

Jesus knew about stress. John the Baptist had been slain by Herod. Jesus withdrew to a solitary place where he hoped he could be alone. But great crowds followed him wherever he went. And he felt compassion for them and heal…