worried about many things

"Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed." Luke 10:39

"worried and upset about many things" is a phrase describes my week last week, especially waking up in the middle of the night with so much on my mind, so many worries, stresses, issues in ministry to deal with have been running through my head.

It seems like this time of year is just so busy and frantic. So many preparations to make, so many people to shop for, places to travel, expectations to meet and this passage is just so calming when you dive into that last little phrase:

"but only one thing is needed."

What is the one thing? Jesus is referring to the thing that Mary, Martha's sister, chose earlier in the passage. "[Mary] sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made."

So you could infer that the one thing that is needed is the presence of Jesus. To sit at his feet, to listen to him. Mary was focused on the presence of Jesus. Martha was distracted from the presence of Jesus. Being focused and being distracted are completely opposite.

What causes me to worry so much are all little things and they add up, they distract me from focusing on the one thing that matters, the one thing that is needed, the presence of Jesus. We always have his presence, but we don't always practice his presence, he's always ready to speak to us, but we don't always stop and listen.

"Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her." v 42

I am encouraged to stop worrying about my "many things" to trust him with those things and to practice his presence, to live in his presence, to work in his presence, and to rest in his presence. I want to "choose what is better" because I know it will not be taken away from me.