From Stressed to Strengthened By: Laura Thomas

From Stressed to Strengthened

I am a list-maker.  If I were to make a list of all the things I ought to accomplish today, my to-do list would spill off the desk and onto the floor. There simply isn’t enough time, not to mention energy, to do everything that must be done. To make matters worse, there is the added stress to meet the expectations and demands that well-meaning friends, family members, and co-workers knowingly, and unknowingly place on me.  Quite frankly, it’s all too much.  At times I want to throw my hands in the air and scream, “Enough already!”   

Luke 10:38-42 tells us about a woman who did just that.  After opening her home to Jesus and his disciples, Martha found herself stressed, exhausted, and overwhelmed by all the preparations that come with entertaining a house full of guests.  To make matters worse, her sister Mary couldn’t have cared less.  She didn’t bother to help Martha, but instead sat at Jesus’s feet, listening to his every word.  Martha finally hit her breaking point and had an “Enough already!” moment.  She came to Jesus and asked, “LORD, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!”   

I imagine that Martha expected Jesus to respond something like this, “You’re right, Martha.  It’s not fair that you’re doing all this work on your own.  Mary, chip in and help your sister… we can wrap up our conversation later.”  Instead, however, Jesus answered, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed, or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

The passage doesn’t tell us how Martha responded to these words from Jesus.  Perhaps feeling her burden was lifted, she ditched her to-do list to join Mary at the feet of Jesus.  Or maybe, she returned to her labor, feeling insulted and offended that Jesus did not acknowledge the hard work and preparations she made for Him and his disciples.    

Whatever the case, Martha had a choice.  She could return to her work… stressed, exhausted, and upset or she could put it all aside to sit at the feet of Jesus.

We too have a choice.  We can continue in our striving, relying on our own strength to get us through the day, or we can seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, knowing that all these things will be added unto us (Matthew 6:33).  When we choose Him first, we can rest assured that He will “make all grace abound toward us, so that we, having all sufficiency in all things at all times, may have an abundance for every good work.” (II Corinthians 9:8). I know I could sure use a little “all sufficiency” and “abundance” in my life right now!

What about you?  Do you find that you’re too busy with your tasks and preparations to spend time with God?  Do you desire to spend time with Him, but find that the day slips away, leaving no time to commune with the One who created you and gave His life for you?  Or, like David (Psalm 5:1-3) and Jesus (Mark 1:35), do you rise early in the morning to fellowship with your heavenly Father, knowing that He will redeem the time and give you all that you need to accomplish what He would have you do each day.   

What challenges, if any, do you have making time for God?  When you prioritize time with Him, do you find yourself strengthened to take on the demands of the day, or do you feel more stressed, because now you have even less time to work on your daily tasks?

My prayer for you is that you prioritize God by giving Him the first part of your day.  Allow Him to take you from stressed to strengthened, from “Enough already!” to “More than Enough”.