“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one.”
(Luke 10:41–42)
Martha’s story is familiar to anyone who has ever felt pulled in many directions at once. She welcomed Jesus into her home with genuine love, but the weight of responsibilities pressed hard on her. She wanted everything to be perfect for Him. In her desire to serve, she became distracted, overwhelmed, and even frustrated.
Yet Jesus did not reject her.
He did not tell her to stop serving.
He simply invited her to slow her spirit so she could see Him — really see Him.
In Martha, we see a woman who loved Jesus with her hands, her energy, and her effort. But we also see someone learning to love Him with her attention. And Jesus meets her right there, in her busyness, with gentleness and truth.
What Can We Learn from Martha?
- Your service matters. Opening your home, meeting needs, caring for others—these are acts of worship. Jesus valued Martha’s hospitality.
- But your heart matters even more. He wants you present with Him, not just productive for Him.
- You can bring your frustrations to Jesus. Martha spoke honestly, and Jesus met her honesty with compassion.
- Faith grows in the tension of responsibility and devotion. Later, at Lazarus’s tomb, Martha reveals a deep, mature faith:“I believe that You are the Messiah.”
She becomes a woman of both action and conviction.
Martha reminds us that Jesus does not ask us to abandon our responsibilities. He simply asks us not to lose Him in them.
Take a moment today to pause.
Breathe.
Listen.
Let your service be rooted not in pressure but in presence.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for meeting me in the busyness of my life. Teach me to serve with a peaceful heart, to notice when I am overwhelmed, and to return again to the “one thing” that matters most—being with You. Shape my service, my thoughts, and my pace so that everything I do flows from sitting at Your feet. In Jesus’ name, amen.
