The Stress Detox DevotionalSample

STRESSING OVER THE DETAILS

If you remember the story, Jesus and followers had arrived at the home of Lazarus, Mary, and Martha in Bethany after breaking their journey. They were good friends, and these three siblings knew and loved Him very much. Martha, presumed to be the oldest, wanted everything to be perfect. She was concerned about every single detail of the visit, hoping to create a much-needed oasis for Jesus. It was probably important to her to be known as a good hostess, ensuring that her guests felt comfortable and cared for. Chances are she’d started working the minute she learned they were coming, trying to make her home feel extra comfy and inviting. Undoubtedly, Martha put much thought into meal prep, hoping to fill the bellies of Jesus and His followers with yummy food. And while her heart in this situation was full of goodness, it was obviously also filling with anxiety. Mary didn’t seem to have a care in the world. While Martha was busy laboring for her guests, her sister sat at the feet of Jesus, listening to His every word. Mary wasn’t helping in the kitchen, as was customary during that time. Instead, she spent her time beside Christ. Martha was focused on hospitality, while Mary focused on her heart. Can’t we relate to the feelings of this spicy and stressed-out Martha? Think of every big family gathering where we were on the hook for the meal. Think of every holiday hosted in our house and the details involved. Think of celebration planning that fell into our laps. And remember the stress and frustration we felt because we were the ones to do most (if not all) of the prep and cleanup so others could simply enjoy. Rather than enjoy friends and family, we counted the moments until everything was back to some semblance of normal. What if next time, we chose to balance our Martha tendencies with intentional moments of enjoyment like Mary? What if we decided to sit in the celebration, not worrying if every detail is perfect? What if we delegated duties so we weren’t set up for an anxiety-induced breakdown? What if we built in breaks to join everyone else and be part of the gathering? Deep down, there’s a beautiful desire for our labor to make others feel loved and appreciated. We want them to feel valued. And that often manifests as stressing out over the process. But today, decide that going forward you will find balance between juggling the details and joining the celebration.

Ask Yourself This. . .

What needs to change so I can find balance instead of foreboding?

Have I ever asked God to help me with this kind of anxiety?