Martha

Do you ever feel like there’s not enough of you to go around? Like you’re being pulled in so many directions that you’re literally starting to come apart? Between the demands of work, the needs of your family, and the mountain of personal responsibilities, it’s easy to feel like you’re carrying the world on your shoulders.

And here’s the kicker: when you’re working that hard to keep everyone happy, you start to feel like no one even notices.

That is exactly where we find Martha in Luke 10. She’s hosting Jesus, the guest of all guests, and she’s doing all the work while her sister, Mary, just sits there. The Greek word Luke uses to describe Martha is periespato, which literally means "pulled apart." Can you relate? Martha wasn’t a bad person doing a bad thing. She was doing a good thing, but she was doing it with a distracted heart. She was hungry for attention and approval, and that kind of hunger always distracts us from the heart of Jesus.

Both Mary and Martha had priorities, but Jesus called Mary’s "better." Why? Because Mary was listening while Martha was listing. Martha had a long list of "good" things to do, but that list didn't come from Jesus. It was her list. We do this all the time. We hand God our finished agenda and ask Him to sign off on it, rather than sitting at His feet to hear what He actually wants us to do.

When we live by our own lists, we end up resentful because our expectations aren't met. We see others' limitations, we run out of grace, and we snap.

The Recipe for Resentment: Your Expectations + Others’ Limitations - Grace = Resentment

The enemy will always try to weaken your calling by getting you to focus on what you can’t control — other people. When you feel that pull toward resentment, it’s a sign that you’ve stopped being present and you’ve started being pressured.

We have to create space. Sometimes, the Lord will lead you to do things that aren’t on your list, and He will definitely give you permission to cross some things off. If God wills you to do it, He will walk you through it.

If you’ve been feeling pulled apart lately, shift your attention back to the Master's list. Presence with Him is always the priority. His yoke is easy. His burden is light. He won’t put more on you than He’s already equipped you to handle.