MANY MARTHAS FEW MARYS

THE “STAY-AT-HOME” MARTHA

I stand at the kitchen sink, looking down at the mountain of dishes in front of me, trying to tune out the sound of my screaming kids fighting over a toy in the background. Feeling frustrated and overwhelmed as I struggle to hold it together today.

“I need help!” I scream out to God.

“What’s wrong, Mommy?” asks my four-year-old daughter, Grace, looking up at me with her little eyes full of confusion.

“It’s okay, baby. Go play; Mommy’s just tired,” I reply, quickly wiping my tears and pressing on finishing up the dishes. I don't have the luxury to stop. If I don’t clean the house, do the laundry, get the kids to their activities, cook the meals, and keep up with all the to-dos, then nothing gets done.

I desperately want a break, but I have no one to lend a helping hand, no one to call, and no shoulder to cry on.

THE “CHURCH SERVANT” MARTHA

I smile, show up, and give my all every Sunday, but I’m exhausted. I arrive ready to serve, yet Sunday after Sunday, I feel misused, overlooked, and burnt out.

I serve in multiple ministries and I’m the one the church leaders look to for hosting small groups, teaching Bible studies, checking in on others, singing on the praise team and occasionally helping out in the nursery when there is no one else to do it.

It feels like no one cares about the hours I put in, and no one checks to see if I'm okay. It’s difficult to have so much responsibility placed on one person who is only a volunteer. I want to spend more time with my family, but I feel like I can’t step down because there are only a few of us committed to serve. I’m afraid that if I step down no one else will step up. I want to serve God’s people because I know I’m called to, but Lord, I am exhausted.

“God I needed help!” I cry out internally.

THE “WORKPLACE” MARTHA

"Hey Madison, could you take on some of Jasmine’s accounts? She had to leave early," my supervisor asked.

"Sure," I replied, rolling my eyes, hoping she didn’t notice. Jasmine is always leaving early, and I end up picking up her slack. I genuinely hope everything is okay, but Jasmine is known for making up stories to escape work.

As I sat there for a moment, I looked at the picture of my three kids on my desk. They are depending on me. As a single mother I’m all they have, and I don’t have the financial security of leaving early. I know I need the work but I’m also just so tired of having to do other people’s work.

"Lord, I need a break!" I quietly muttered to myself.

WE ALL HAVE BEEN A MARTHA

One day, I felt the Holy Spirit say to me, “Come, sit at my feet.” I was overwhelmed and exhausted by everything I was carrying—mentally, physically, and emotionally. Although the three stories I just shared are fictional, I believe we can all relate; we have experienced similar times in our lives. We show up even when we’re tired. We pour from an empty cup. We serve because we want to please God. We give even when we feel like we’re lacking. Our intentions are good, and we mean well. We want to do the “right thing,” but the truth is that God never asks us to take on more than we can bear or to carry the weight of life alone.

Instead, Jesus encourages us in Matthew 11:28 (KJV): “Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.”

In Luke 10:38-42, we read about the story of Mary and Martha. Martha desired to be the perfect hostess for her honored guest, Jesus, while Mary wanted to sit at his feet, soaking in his presence and learning from his teaching. It seems Martha may have become frustrated watching Mary sit while she served. Luke 10:40 (KJV) says, “But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? Bid her therefore that she help me.”

I bet you can relate, because I sure can. Just the other day, my husband was sitting in his recliner, feet elevated, cheering joyfully as his baseball team scored. The thought, “It must be nice,” popped into my head as I headed to the kitchen to load the dishwasher. The idea of joining him never crossed my mind because I was busy. I had a household to keep. I had better things to do than to sit. That could have been an opportunity to enjoy time with my husband instead of worrying about all the things that I felt needed to get done. Or better yet ask for help because I know He would have gladly gotten around to it, but I wanted it done that very second. Many of us feel like we can’t slow down, we can’t take a break, we can’t stop, and we can’t ask for help. 

Here’s how Jesus responded to Martha in verses 41-42: “And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: but one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”

Jesus gently corrects Martha. Her desire to serve was good, but Mary’s desire to be in His presence was better. Why? Because everything we need flows from Him. When we sit at His feet, we allow Him to be Lord. That is where we find rest for our souls, gain wisdom, discernment, and guidance. It’s where peace and joy reside. Jesus is everything we need, but oftentimes, we are so busy doing it all in our own strength that we forget we have a helper! We forget to place all our cares and worries at His feet.

If you feel tired, worried, and busy, then, like Mary, go sit at His feet and find rest.

Let’s Pray:

Heavenly Father,  

Only you know the heavy burdens we carry. Please forgive us for striving to do life in our own strength. Give us the desire to sit at your feet and soak in your presence. Fill our cups with Your love, peace, and joy, in Jesus' name, amen.