Martha: The Stressed-out Hostess

Read: Luke 10:38-42; John 11

A recent survey showed that anxiety has overtaken depression as the leading mental health problem in many parts of the world. Anxiety-fighting drugs have never been asked for so much. Maybe you know what it feels like to be kept awake with worry? To suffer panic attacks before exams? Anxiety is a scary thing to fight on your own. 

When King David wrote Psalm 55, he was stressed out by the same sorts of things we struggle with today. He had been gossiped about (v.3), rejected by a close friend (vv.12-14) and he’d been scared by the violence and anger around him (vv.4,9). He wanted to run away (vv.4-8)! 

Because David’s worry was like our own, his answer can be ours as well. He wrote, “I call to God, and the LORD saves me . . . Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you” (vv.16,22). 

Anxiety is not something we were ever meant to carry. Instead, we bring our stresses and worry to Jesus because He cares for us (1 Pet. 5:7; see also Phil. 4:6-7). 

If you are fighting anxiety today, God is ready to carry every problem you give Him. 

 

Thinking it over . . . 

How easy or difficult is it to trust God with your stresses today? When have you seen God come through for you before, and how might that help in this situation? Who can you pray with about your anxiety? 

 

GOD WANTS US TO PUT OUR STRESS ON HIM. HE IS BIG ENOUGH TO CARRY IT ALL.