--- title: Lean on God description: How do you survive stress? Colleen Spiro, experiencing 3 of the top 5 major stressors in a short time, shares her strategy for getting through. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/lean-on-god-f.jpg --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/03/27/lean-on-god/#) # Lean on God Mar 27, 2019 6:30:47 PM  |  by [Colleen Spiro](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/colleen-spiro) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/lean-on-god-f.jpg) [!["Lean on God" by Colleen Spiro (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/lean-on-god.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/lean-on-god.jpg) Léonard Cotte, [Unsplash.com](https://unsplash.com/photos/cTRlDeMRYuI) (2017), CC0/PD[/caption]   By the end of March, I will be retired. Never thought I would see the day, but there it is. If it is in my calendar then it must be true. My calendar does not lie. **Retirement.** As a result of that major change I my life, we are moving. Moving to be closer to some of our grown children. Moving to a place we can afford, because, of course, I am retiring. That is also in my calendar. And on my to-do list every day. My to-do list does not lie. **Moving.** And then there is my recent illness, which kept me out of work for close to four months. Thanks to insurance and good benefits, I had some income while I was out of work. But the stress of the illness itself, and the length of time it took to diagnose it, was intense. I lost close to 70 pounds. All the tests finally helped my doctors come up with a diagnosis. Treatment? Rest. That was about all I could do. My body does not lie. *Illness.* I looked up the list of the top five stressors in life. Retirement (or change of jobs), moving, and major illness were all in the top five. I had three of the top five stressors. Oooh boy. So, what do we do with stress? How do we handle it? How do we survive it? I survived it by leaning on God and my husband. They make quite a pair. A really good team. Their love and their presence carried me through it. Love and Presence. > For I am the LORD your God, who grasp your right hand; It is I who say to you, “Fear not, I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13) --- *Copyright 2019 Colleen Spiro* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F03%2F27%2Flean-on-god%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F03%2F27%2Flean-on-god%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F03%2F27%2Flean-on-god%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Lean%20on%20God) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F03%2F27%2Flean-on-god%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2019%2F03%2F27%2Flean-on-god%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Colleen Spiro](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/COLLEEN%20SPIRO.jpeg) ### [Colleen Spiro](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/colleen-spiro) Colleen Spiro is a Catholic mother, grandmother and a deacon’s wife. A certified spiritual director, Colleen loves to share her faith and encourage others through her retreats and writings. You can read her reflections at her website, [Catholic Prayer Life](http://www.catholic-prayerlife.com). ## Related Blog Articles [ Blue Jays and Other Blessings Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/09/30/blue-jays-and-other-blessings/) [ Prayer and Padre Pio Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2015/09/23/prayer-and-padre-pio) [ Don't Tip Over Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2017/03/29/dont-tip-over) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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