Do you ever feel the weight of the tasks that you have on your list? I am sure you do! The past couple weeks, I have felt the burden and felt overwhelmed by the enormity of it all. I find myself at times, looking at the multitude of responsibilities I have and simultaneously feeling that I am not doing enough, while also being overwhelmed by the list of jobs that I have to accomplish. Why is that? There is no checklist, litmus test, to reach heaven. But I feel driven to do more, make my mark, yet at the same time I just want to hunker down and do nothing.

I am certain that our weather has played a role in my mood. It’s frigidly cold outside, and we got over 12 inches of snow this week. Factor in a holiday on Monday, and a snow emergency on Tuesday…my week has been a whirlwind! At times I find my mind racing, scrolling through a “to do list”. I feel like I am running—running—running—and then I crash! In Hebrews, chapter 12, the writer tells us “And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.” Isaiah 40:31 promises “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like Eagles; They will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.” The past week, I have felt challenged. I am trying to run the race, put in the work, do the job, and my mind just keeps racing with all that needs to be done…so where is my peace?

Thinking back on the hectic schedule and the events of this week—how much time did I spend in prayer? How much time in His word? Not much I am afraid to say! Now I see it—I am Martha, in the book of Luke! “As Jesus and his disciples were on their way, he came to a village where a woman named Martha opened her home to him. She had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, ‘Lord don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!’ ‘Martha, Martha’ the Lord answered, ‘you are worried and 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.’”

Martha was so consumed with her list and the tasks that needed to be done, that she completely missed the fact that the Lord God, the Christ, Jesus, was sitting in her living room! Oh, how I can relate! I would be running around like the Tasmanian Devil, trying to cook, straighten up, make sure everything was perfect—not even realizing the opportunity that I was missing! So, as I sit here, trying to make sure I get my blog written and posted for the week—the Lord has opened my heart to this truth! I am worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. I asked before— where is my peace? My peace is found at the feet of Jesus—listening to him teach—taking in the opportunity that is in front of me.  

So dear friends—I will leave you with what I have learned today. Yes, we are to run the race. Yes, we are to fight the good fight. Yes, we are to go into the world and spread the gospel. But when Jesus presents himself to us—when he wants our time and our attention—we are to STOP and LISTEN! Put aside the many distractions. Stop scrolling through the lists you have either written down or are in your head. Take time to sit before the Lord and listen to him—He is all that matters, and his words will fill you so that you can continue—without feeling overwhelmed. He will restore your soul. He will fill you with His Spirit. And then, through His power and not YOUR own power—you will find the strength to continue into whatever tomorrow brings.