.........overwhelming

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.” Luke 10:41-42

How many stressed-out mothers does it take to change a light bulb? Just one. And why only one? Because no one else in the house seems to notice — or care — that the light bulb has burned out. They’d sit in darkness for three days before realizing it. And if, by some miracle, they figured it out, they’d spend another two days looking for the light bulbs — the ones that have been kept in the same cupboard for the past seventeen years!

And if they did find them? The chair they used to change the bulb would stay smack-dab in the middle of the room... with the crumpled bulb wrapper underneath it... because apparently, no one else knows how to throw away trash either!

Sound a little too familiar? It’s funny because it’s true. But underneath that humor lies a very real feeling: the feeling of being overwhelmed, underappreciated, and alone in dealing with the responsibilities of daily life.

Life can often feel exactly like that overworked, frazzled mom. The mess is everywhere. The work never ends. And it feels like no one else even sees it, much less helps out.

Maybe you’ve been there. Maybe you are there. If so, you're in good company. In Luke 10, Jesus visited a home where Martha was feeling exactly the same way -- stressed, frustrated, and exhausted. Martha felt that all the work being done to show hospitality was being dumped in her lap, and she wanted her sister Mary to help out. Martha wasn’t wrong for wanting things to get done. It was important. But in the rush and the stress, she lost sight of what mattered most — being with Jesus.

Yes, the light bulbs need changing. The dishes need washing. The laundry needs to be done. Life doesn’t stop. But before we let the endless tasks overwhelm us, Jesus gently calls us to slow down and take some time to sit with him. Because in the end, it’s not about having a perfect house, a finished checklist, or even a well-lit room. It’s about finding peace right in the middle of the mess, because Jesus is there with us.

Father, when I feel overwhelmed and unappreciated, remind me that you are near. Help me to slow down, rest at your feet, and find peace in your presence, even on those days when the laundry’s piling up. In Jesus’ name, amen.