Who Is Tired Of Rushing Around

Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has made the right choice, and it will not be taken away from her.

WHEN I MARRIED JARED, I joined a large family that loves gathering for meals. No matter how big the kitchen, there never seems to be enough room for all the preparation that must be done, and there never seems to be enough space in the oven for all the food. Preparing to cook takes just as long as the actual cooking. And coordinating the timing of the meal is done only by the wisest of the women.

When I read the well-known story about the two sisters, Mary and Martha, in Luke’s Gospel, I can hear the pots and pans clanging. I can smell the food cooking and picture Martha with sweat on her brow. As she stirs something in the kitchen, wipes her hands on a cloth, and then rushes to find Mary, I can sense her sigh of frustration. And when she spots her sister sitting at the feet of Jesus, I can see her on the brink of exhausted and overwhelmed tears. I’ve been her. Maybe not with my sister, but definitely with my own husband and kids.

Don’t they care that I’m doing all this work for them? Don’t they see how much effort I’m putting into making their lives more enjoyable? Would it hurt them to help out or at least notice? Come on, my friend, don’t let me be the only one to admit I’ve loudly shaken out a new trash bag or slammed the dishwasher door just so my family notices that I’m still going and they’re still sitting.

The truth is, when Martha found Mary at Jesus’s feet, she didn’t ask Mary to get up. She told Jesus to tell Mary to get up. Yikes. I’ve prayed like that before too. I’ve talked to Jesus and told rather than asked Him what should happen next.

Yet instead of ordering Mary to help with the preparations, Jesus offered Martha the help she really needed. He reminded her that work is good, but it shouldn’t take priority over rest in the presence of Jesus.

My friend, I know you rush from one thing to the next. You are constantly on the go. But can this story serve as a quick reminder for the days ahead? Your value isn’t determined by what you do or do not get done. I have a feeling you already know that and just might need someone to bring it to the front of your heart. There will be more dishes to wash tomorrow, more errands to run, meals to prepare, clothes to clean, toilets to scrub, bills to pay, problems to solve, and life to live. Don’t rush right past rest. Jesus wants to meet with you even in your going. Let’s take just a moment and recenter our hearts on what He says is the one thing we really need.

Tonight we pray for the momma who is tired of rushing around. Lord, it feels like all she ever does is hurry from one place to another, from one task to another, from one crisis to the next. Lord, tonight she needs Your peace to flood her heart. She needs to slow down for a minute and remember that she’s a person, too, not just a chauffeur, a housekeeper, or even a crisis manager. Be with this momma tonight as she winds down after another day. Please grant her peace and rest.

We ask in Jesus’s name, amen.

Jesus, in these quiet moments, help me to sit at your feet and find rest from . . .