Because The Striver In All Of Us Needs A Place To Rest
My parents should have named me Martha. I’m totally a Martha. I’ve never met a project I shied away from. Always felt at home with my head down, my focus narrowed to accomplish a goal, complete a task. That’s always been my specialty.
But as all Martha’s know, sometimes we get tired of trying. Sometimes we grow weary in the work. We’ve grown so comfortable with our doing that we have forgotten how to simply be. We long to sit like Mary at Jesus’ feet. We do. We crave a bit of quiet in our souls.
To be honest, one of the hardest things for someone like me is to stop running and sit still. I understand Martha’s frustration. I can imagine as I read Luke 10:38-42 (NIV) the conflict burning relentlessly inside her heart— wanting so badly to be at Jesus’ feet yet at the same time, feeling entirely helpless to leave her familiar habits, to let go of her to-do list, to walk away from her agitated unrest. Unpeace.
While it feels like striving is the only thing that keeps our unpeace at bay, the one quantity we can control, perhaps even the only place that feels safe, I am reminded that we were not made for safety. We were created for connection. We were made for meaning.
Like Martha, our striving keeps us from exhaling into to the thing we long for most —peace. Striving chains us to our distress while keeping us from being present with ourselves, present with our Savior, and present with those He has put in our lives.
I love what Jesus says to Martha. He calls out to her in Luke 10:41 (NIV), Martha, Martha, the Lord answered, you are worriedand 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.
It seems His presence is what we need most. Jesus assured Martha that the presence Mary experienced sitting at His feet would never be taken away from her. His presence would be her companion when the first splash of morning sun shone down on her eyes and it would be there with her until she settled her head on her blanket at the end of another day.
Why would we hold onto our striving instead of claiming His permanent presence or His powerful peace? Why would we want our doing instead of His delight?
Somehow we mistakenly believe that we don’t have time for His presence. We quietly whisper that being like Mary is selfish when there is so much work to be done. We console ourselves with the thought that one day we’ll have time for rest. Time for His presence. Yet day after day, the time never materializes, the moments never appear. And His presence is right here waiting…waiting to be experienced, waiting to be enjoyed. Savored. Celebrated.
For every striver, perfectionist man, woman, teen, who longs to find hope, rest and peace.
What areas are you striving in today?
At work…
At home…
At church…
This week, find a moment when you can choose not to strive, and choose a moment of presence instead. Find a time to lay aside your tasks, your busyness, and intentionally run to sit at Jesus’ feet, drinking in His love, His life, His passion and purpose for your life.
My prayer for the “Martha” in all of us is that we would experience the words of one of my favorite modern hymns, the heights of love, the depths of peace; when fears are stilled, when strivings cease. I pray we would, know Him as our Comforter, our All in All, and more than anything that, here in the love of Christ we all would stand.
[clickToTweet tweet="Here in the love of Christ we stand." quote="Here in the love of Christ we stand."]
This is the presence that Christ has for you today!
About This Community
Don't we all want a little peace? My heart for this community is to provide just that - a needed refuge from all the burdens that weigh us down, some encouragement and inspiration to keep us weary travelers moving forward on our journeys, and some practical advice to help each of us navigate the challenges of life and relationships. Whether in our parenting, our marriages, our faith, or the broken places in our hearts, this place is for anyone who dares to reach beyond the hopelessness that surrounds us and embrace a lifestyle of emotional abundance and peace!
About Peace for a Lifetime
In my new book, Peace for a Lifetime, I share the keys to cultivating a life that’s deeply rooted, overflowing, and abundant, the fruit of which is peace. Through personal and professional experience as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, I've discovered how to take the broken pieces of life and find indestructible peace with herself, God and with others. Through my story and other’s stories you’ll realize that you can experience the life for which you long. You can experience abundance beyond anything you can imagine. You can experience peace, not just for today, not just for tomorrow. You can experience peace —for a lifetime!
Peace for a Lifetime is available on Amazon.com.
Book Trailer: https://vimeo.com/155392891