The Cure to Feeling Overwhelmed

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You know how I’m reading through Ezra?  I was thinking the other day, you know how they had this huge party after they built up the temple wall?   I was wondering today as I was working in the basement…. I wonder if the women got a bit overwhelmed?  Having too much to do in too little of time.. all these celebrations that happened.    Then I was reading tonight in Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World and guess what the topic was?   The cure to feeling overwhelmed… Kismet eh?  🙂

Remember in the story of Mary and Martha (Luke 10)… anyways, here’s the story: 38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.” Do you remember that Martha was getting all hot and bothered?   All this work to do and no one available to help her?

Here she was living in a society where men’s work and women’s work was distinctly different.  How they were able to worship was distinctly different.  Men could enter the synagogue, women had the women’s court.  Men were expected to know the Law of Moses and understand the tenets of God, women were expected to show their faith in action.  They were to get jobs done. All these duties women had for cooking meals, getting the laundry done, keeping the house tidy and so forth.   Much work to do.  

Which means when Mary didn’t help her, she had no where to turn to.  Men couldn’t be expected to help serve.  Mary knew Jesus well enough to talk to him though, to say “Jesus, get Mary to help me!”  Jesus simply told Martha, that Mary had chosen the good portion and he wouldn’t take that away from her. 

Do you see it?

Do you see the answer to being overwhelmed?

It is choosing a different portion, a different focus. It’s choosing the good portion of focusing on Jesus first.   Not getting all caught up in the work that needs to be done, or can be done, or_ or _ or…. you know what I mean!.  It’s choosing the good portion.

What is the good portion?

Intimacy with God.  He wants to walk and talk with us.  To be involved in our every moments. He wants so much to just have fellowship with us, his children.  Learning to love him and be like him.  

How does one choose the good portion?

1. Dedicating your day to the Lord.  When you get out of bed invite the Lord to come first in what you do.  To guide all your paths throughout the day.
2. As you go through your day, remember to do the next thing through asking the Lord what it is that needs doing.  Do you see what this does?   It keeps you talking with the Lord all day long. 
3. As you talk with the Lord about the events you need to accomplish during the day, with that you need to trust that he will get you through what NEEDS doing and leave the rest in his capable hands.
4. Be open to his leading, for the opportunities he gives you through the day.  A neighbour to chat with, a meal to drop off, a child’s heart to hear, be open to it.   Listen to it well.   But remember.. don’t get caught up in the doing for doing’s sake… follow his leading for what you should be focusing on. 

If you want to work through how to feel less overwhelmed, I’ve done up a small worksheet to help you.  Click here or on the image below..

Would you like to follow along in Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World?   I’d be happy to have you along for the journey.  🙂   

Other posts in this series:

A Tale of Two Sisters.
Turn Worry to Peace.  
Lord, Don't you Care?.