“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 10:41-42

Martha was distracted by the preparations that had to be made while her sister Mary sat at the Lord’s feet listening.

There is a fine line between concern and worry, trusting in God’s timing and being consumed by preparations, overwhelmed to point where we can neither move forward or backward, frozen in fear of what’s ahead.

Jesus said not to worry about what we will eat or drink or wear, for our Heavenly Father knows we need these things.

But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Matthew 6:33

But does that mean to trust blindly, being numb, or even apathetic to the challenges we face?

Mary chose the better path, to sit and listen to Jesus, but there still was work to do.
There has to be a balance.
Walking a fine line.

Does not worrying mean to ignore the problem or pretend everything is fine? Life is not that easy.

Concern, on the other hand, is caring about something enough that it matters and trusting God with what you cannot control (and even what you think you can).

Jesus cared deeply about people, injustice, and suffering. He acted decisively but never in panic or frantic urgency. His rhythm was to:

Engage the problem
Trust the Father
Move forward in peace.

It seems it was easier for Him, being truly One with the Father, and I admittedly am not, at least not where I want to be. And Jesus had a few more things to be concerned about than my meager challenges.

I engage a problem, I pray, and I wait – not too patiently I might add.

I wonder what it was like for Jesus to wait. To be so in tune with the Father’s will but wondering why His will allowed some things and not others. I know I struggle with it.

I try to place every concern at the Lord’s feet and trust… and wait.
My battle is to ignore the things that turn concern into worry:

Staring at the phone, waiting for it to ring, or not.

Waiting for the doctor to say everything went well, or not.

Watching the clock tick, tick, tick, slower each time.

When the Lord comes through, and He always does, I exhale a breath I didn’t realize I’ve been holding all day
And tears flow.

Gratitude.
Relief.
Embarrassed that I didn’t trust enough
Even though I know He can and know He will.

Father, take this weakness.
Re-mold it into faith.
That One day, I won’t need to worry.
Only trust.

Amen…