Troubled about many things.

This crazy world. I feel so sad for lost people. I can’t imagine, with all that is going on lately, having to go through life without prayer, a relationship with and faith in God! Even being a Christian, and talking with my Lord daily, my spirit feels like it is in almost a constant state of unrest. War, sadness, sickness, meanness, it seems Satan is attacking us from all sides. But, the good news is, we have a Bible. God has given us some words of encouragement for when we are troubled about many things.

Go not forth into the field, nor walk by the way; for the sword of the enemy and fear is on every side.

Jeremiah 6:25

Sound familiar? But also look at what is written in Psalms 71…

Thou shalt increase my greatness, and comfort me on every side.

Psalm 71:21

So exactly how will God comfort us? Do we just continue to stress and worry about the state of our nation, and the world around us, and hope that soon he will take the worry away? No. There is only one solution for our being troubled about many things.

“…one thing is needful…that good part which shall not be taken away…”

And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things:
But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

Luke 10:41-42

We all know the story about the two sisters Jesus visited in their home. Mary and Martha are used in many lessons for women about hospitality, serving others with the right attitude, etc. These two verses from this passage of scripture stood out differently to me today. Jesus recognized that Martha was ‘careful and troubled about many things’. She was fretting over getting everything done, and she failed to worship at the feet of Jesus, as her sister Mary was. From Martha’s point of view, she was doing it all right. She had the house together, perhaps she had a 3 course meal cooking on the stove, the sweet tea was on ice, and her table linens were pressed and beautifully set. But she was doing it all alone. She felt the full weight of her world, in that moment, on her shoulders alone. She was doing it all in her own strength.

My friend, Jesus doesn’t want us to do anything in our own strength. He is our help, our comfort, and our guide. He gave us the Word of God to guide us, and to reassure us that even though the world around us may go crazy, he has all things in control. No one can pluck us from the Father’s hand. However, if we fail to spend time in the Bible, or sitting at the feet of Jesus as Mary did in this story, we will only see the mess at hand. We will be neglecting that part that is so needful. We will certainly be troubled and careful about much.

How about we challenge each other this week…

This week, instead of logging into Facebook or Instagram, or watching the news… open God’s word. Read a verse. If you are sick, search verses on sickness. If you are afraid, search out scripture on fear. Get a buddy – an accountability partner, if you will. Check in with this person daily. Are they reading their Bible? What have you read? Share what you have found with them. Challenge each other to take our eyes of the world, and refocus them on that good part (Jesus) that shall not be taken away.