When Devotion Becomes Distraction

Finding Myself Off Balance

If you have ever felt caught in a cycle of busyness that you just can’t get out of, you are not alone. I have found myself in that very place many times, both working at the pregnancy center and even here at Life Advancement Group. If I’m being honest, I’ve been teetering

on the brink of burnout for a couple months and it’s been eating away at both my soul and my productivity.

My sincere desire for excellence created a cycle of busyness where hours were flying by, tasks were piling, my stress level was reaching the red zone and I wasn’t pushing the needle forward at all. More than my time with the Lord was superficial, a checked box, a habit. Not the kind of communion and renewal that my soul needed. Without realizing it, I became a dry and barren land. I was striving.

When I finally was able to take a look at the crumbling state of things, I realized that my “busyness” was doing no one any good. Not my partners, not my staff and certainly not me. In an honest cry to the Lord, he revealed that my job wasn’t the problem. My priorities were. Sure I was in a busy season, but I was off balance because I wasn’t partnering with Him in and through it.

The story of Martha and Mary is really a story of balance and priorities.

Like Martha, we can be deeply devoted to doing good work, but if we are not careful, we will lose sight of the “one thing that is needed”. Our union with Christ which is where all good things begin.

In Luke 10:38-42, Martha welcomed Jesus into her home. She wanted to serve Him well. But in her attempt to be the perfect host and bring honor to her Lord, she busied herself to the point that she grew resentful.

Martha’s sister Mary, loved the Lord equally and also wanted to honor him. However, her approach was different. Mary chose to sit at Jesus’ feet, and just be present. Eventually, Martha demanded Jesus intervene and “tell my sister to help me”, but He gently told her, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed, or indeed only one.[Mary has chosen what is better,

I am sure that eventually Mary would have gotten up to help serve the guests but she knew the most important thing in the moment was just being with Jesus. Mary likely planned to just “grab some refreshments real quick” but what happened is that she  unintentionally entered a cycle of busyness that caused her to descend step by step, from devotion, to distraction, to resentment, to demanding control. It didn’t happen all at once. It started with good intentions, but somewhere along the way, she lost her peace, when the prince of peace was literally in the next room.

So how do we break that pattern and return to balance?

First, pause. Step away from the tasks and take time to pray. You will have to quit cold turkey. You will never get to the bottom of the pile so just stop right now and ask God to reorient your heart and repair your union with Him.

Then, take an honest look at what is in front of you. What is on your task list? What is constantly sitting at the forefront of your mind? Ask yourself, are these really the things Jesus would choose for me today? If he were my work partner today, how would he set the priorities?

His yoke is easy and His burden is light. In The Message paraphrase, He invites us into the “unforced rhythms of grace.” As you look at your tasks, your emails, your deadlines, ask yourself why do these things feel so heavy? Is all of this really necessary to fulfilling my mission? What really matters if I zoom out and look at the big picture?

Ask questions and take steps to realign your heart, mind and priorities.

Often, the things we want to do are not always the things we are called to do at that moment.

Ask: Which tasks truly need to be done with immediacy? Which ones are important, but not essential right now? Which ones are not entirely necessary?

Sometimes what feels like responsibility is actually control.

Ask: Is there someone on my team who can carry part of the load? Am I holding too tightly to how,  when or even if this must get done?

In Closing

If you are feeling even a slight nudge as you read this, like something is off balance, I want to invite you to pause a little longer. I have linked a simple self-reflection exercise here for you to try. Consider sitting in solitude and prayer with a journal in your lap as you walk through the questions. Be real with yourself, and be real with Jesus. And if, after that time, you feel like you could use help adjusting your schedule, delegating tasks, or reprioritizing your life, find a trusted friend or accountability partner. Because at the end of the day, Jesus is not asking for more from you, He just wants you.

Pray:

Lord, I give You this day, not my doing, but all that I am. I choose devotion to You, my God.

I choose the rhythm of rest in my soul. I choose joy, which is my strength. I choose Your priorities.