Mid-Week Message - Just Breathe

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.”   Luke 10:38-42 (NIV)

This has been a trying year for my family and I know it has for many others as well.  It seems that 2018, at least for us, is a year of great testing.  We have been through situations that we could never have imagined, both personally and as a family, and learned more about how far we can be stretched than is even conceivable.  We have cried rivers of tears as we have worked to attempt to figure out why we are undergoing such hardship.  I promise you that the Lord has heard the word "why" from our lips and hearts more times than can be counted.  

I am sure that each person reading this today has experienced similar times.  Sometimes it seems as if the twister has come and carried us away to Oz where we spend our time just working to get back to some sense of normal life.  As we travel down whatever serves as our own personal yellow-brick road, we find ourselves even more lost that we were when we started out and just hope that the flying monkeys don't appear.  Although this reference may contain a bit of humor, we all know that there is nothing funny about lives being turned upside-down with no hint of an ending.  

There are many positives that have come from this difficult time.  We have grown closer to each other because we are the only ones that truly understand all that has happened.  It isn't the way I would choose to have my marriage strengthened, but I will praise God for it.  We have also spiritually searched ourselves as we have been put in the position of having the Lord and only the Lord to hang onto.  Through the stress and uncertainty of each day we have had the assurance that He is with us and will never abandon us.  That has provided the hope that has helped us to carry on. 

When my husband was in the hospital earlier this year, a very wise woman told him that he needed to learn to sit in a chair, close his eyes and just breathe.  That reminds me of the scripture that I chose for today.  Martha was all in a dither trying to make everything just right while Mary chose to sit at the feet of her Savior.  Jesus said that Mary had chosen correctly.  Which of the sisters was the most peaceful?  Mary was because she was near her Savior, listening to His words.  

What is life like in your house today? Are you stressed with too much to do?  Are you dealing with deadlines, sickness, financial difficulties, or any of a multitude of other problems that have caused you to feel that you are beyond what you can handle?  I know that feeling so well.  What we need to do is to learn how to sit with Jesus, listen for His voice and breathe.  Nothing in this world is more important than our relationship with Him.  It is the only one that is eternal.  These trials will end eventually.  All things do.  We have His promise that He will never leave us and that when we are weak, He is strong.  So, loosen your grip on the here and now, find a quiet place to sit with Him, and just breathe.  God bless you.