Pressured? Don't get distracted!
Pressured? Don't get distracted!
Pressured? Don't get distracted!
The Chambers English Dictionary defines stress as a constraining influence; physical, emotional or mental pressure. The World Book Encyclopaedia says it is a body condition that occurs in response to actual or anticipated difficulties of life.
People often experience stress as a result of major events in their lives such as bereavement, divorce or the loss of a job. Stress may occur when people perceive a threat to their lives, or when they are faced with challenges with which they are not able to cope. And stress is most deadly partly because of its subtlety in the rigour of daily living.
Such was the story of Mary and Martha, two sisters whom Jesus visited at Bethany (Luke 10:38-42). While Martha was occupied with the role of a good hostess, Mary sat at Jesus' feet, enjoying the Master's teaching. Martha was more concerned with making sure that everyone was comfortable. There was nothing wrong with that, except that she would rather be sitting at the feet of the Master also. She was neither wholly here nor there. She got stressed up! Her assessment and judgment of the situation became warped.
Martha was obviously distracted. She would want to do more than one thing at the same time. When we get distracted from our goal, like Martha, we become stressed. When we become distracted,we loose sight of the important and become burdened with the urgent. Like many stressed people, Martha blamed everybody for her predicament (v.40).
She accused the Master of not caring - "Lord, do you not care?"
Next she blamed her sister Mary for being irresponsible - "My sister has left me to do all the serving alone."
Then she tried to work things out her own way. "Tell her to help me!"
What was the Master's response? Verse 41 says, "And Jesus answered and said unto her, "Martha, Martha, (you can put your name here because it probably applies to you, too) you are worried and troubled over many things."
The word worried' actually means to be pulled in different directions. And what Jesus said to Martha was, "You are distracted." It means to be divided into parts. It means to be pulled apart from within. The word bothered' gives the impression of noise, turmoil or trouble. Simply put, you are just agitated. Why not take a day at a time. And that was what Jesus was telling Martha: "Take things the way they come. Mary has chosen one thing and nobody can take it away from her."
In the words of Charles Swindoll, "There has never been a more stress-ridden society than ours today. For many, gone are the days of enjoying bubbling brooks along winding pathways or taking long strolls near the beach. The relaxed bike ride through the local park has been replaced with the roar of a motorcycle whipping its way through busy traffic. And a hectic urban family going in six different directionsexisting on instant dinners, shouting matches, strained relationships, too little sleep, and too much television has preempted the easy-come, easy-go lifestyle of the farm. The truth is we live in a time when we are obsessed with business."
According to Richard Exley, "we have been taught that all things are possible to him who works hard. And not only possible, but expected! We are haunted by self-doubt and work all the harder because of it, driven by the mistaken assumption that success will quieten those tormenting voices within. The illusion of fulfillment calls us to redouble our efforts and so we forge ahead blindly, desperately. Soon, we define our lives by what we do. We are a banker, a teacher, and a plumber. Tragically, we have lost our very own identity. We have become workaholics."
Someone once said, "I have to work. I feel ill when I am not working hard." It was Patrick Murielle who said, "We have invented and are being molded the more by a culture, which requires more energy than people have to give. Many people are finding that they simply cannot cope with the pressures of so many changes, so quickly."
I am sure by now you are wondering: am I stressed? Experts say the common signs of stress include unusual heart rate, high blood pressure, muscular aches or pains, mental depression, inability to concentrate and indigestion. Typical reactions may include social withdrawal; an increased use of tobacco, alcohol or drugs; and feelings of helplessness about the situation.
Whatever your own situation, I have good news for you. You do not even need to begin to think of how to manage stress; instead, you can conquer it. You can become an overcomer through Jesus Christ. You can actually conquer and eliminate stress from your life.
Why not choose that one thing today? Why not lay it all at the feet of the Master, Jesus? The Bible says, "Casting all your cares upon him, for he cares for you" (1 Peter 5:7). Remember, He once sat where you sit today. The Bible says He was tempted with all temptations with which you are being tempted. The Scripture says, "For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those that are tempted" (Hebrews 2:18). He has passed this way before.
We read in Psalm 127:1, "Except the Lord builds the house, they labour in vain that build it." Except the Lord builds for you, you are wasting your time. Why not allow Him?
Proverbs 3:5-6 says,"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your path." Another version says that He will make straight your path.
Consider this: God made the system. You can trust Him today. You can refuse to lean on your own understanding. You can deliberately begin to acknowledge the Master Builder in all your ways, thereby inviting Him to build with you. You cannot fail in Jesus' name.
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