Stories of Mental Health in the BibleSample

Anxiety - Martha

Whether you experience occasional stress or suffer from an anxiety disorder, you’re probably no stranger to what Martha felt in Luke 10:38-42. Jesus was coming over to her house, so she wanted to ensure everything was perfect. (Who could blame her?) Martha began to let her concerns about creating a hospitable environment for Jesus escalate to full-blown anxiety.

Our anxious thoughts can act like blinders, blocking parts of our awareness and keeping us from seeing the big picture. While Martha was laser-focused on doing all this work to impress Jesus, Mary simply sat at his feet and absorbed every word he said. Martha was about to miss this special opportunity, but Jesus lovingly reminded her that it’s okay – even valuable – to slow down and refocus on what’s truly important.

Where has anxiety given you blinders in your life? Take some time to ask God to slow your thoughts down so you can focus on what’s most important.