4 Signs of a Stressed-Out Servant and 4 Steps to Restore Spiritual Serenity

Have you found yourself feeling burdened by the busyness of life?  Are you anxious and worried about all of the responsibilities you have?  Do you compare yourself to others who seem to have it made in the shade while you’re sweating it out? Well, you’re not alone, and you can most certainly relate to Martha in Luke 10:38-42.

In my previous post titled One Thing is Needful, we looked at her story, and how Jesus responded to Martha’s attitude. Now I want to dig a little deeper with 4 signs of a stressed-out servant and 4 steps to restore spiritual serenity.

4 Signs of a Stressed-Out Servant

Luke 10:38-42~ Now it came to pass, as they went, that he entered into a certain village: and a certain woman named Martha received him into her house.  And she had a sister called Mary, which also sat at Jesus’ feet, and heard his word.  But Martha was cumbered about much serving, and came to him, and said, Lord, dost thou not care that my sister hath left me to serve alone? bid her therefore that she help me.  And Jesus answered and said unto her, Martha, Martha, thou art careful and troubled about many things: But one thing is needful: and Mary hath chosen that good part, which shall not be taken away from her.

1. A Stressed Out Servant is Cumbered

The first descriptive word we see about Martha is that she is cumbered about much serving. This is the only time that the word cumbered appears in my KJV Bible. It means distracted in a mental sense of the word, or burdened, carrying a difficult and heavy load in a physical sense.

Martha is blinded to the blessing and overwhelmed with her circumstances. She’s got the weight of the world on her shoulders and it’s too much to bear.  So she does what so many of us have done, she complains.

2. A Stressed Out Servant Complains

Martha comes to the Lord, accuses him of not caring about her, and demands he do something about it. Her burden forces the ugliness that has built up in her heart to the surface. There’s no reverence, no honor, and no joy in her heart, only bitterness and anger.

Luke 6:45~ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.

Even though Martha’s reaction to her stressful situation is not ideal, it’s honest, and I love that.  She was Jesus’ friend and he loved her (John 11:5).  They had a close enough relationship that Martha felt comfortable enough to vent her frustrations to him.  And that is a lesson we can learn from Martha, to go to Jesus with our complaints instead of anyone else. Let him know your feelings, but do it with respect to his holiness.

3. A Stressed Out Servant Compares

Imagine the scene, Mary is “doing the one thing that is needful”, sitting at Jesus’ feet, while Martha is frantically trying to serve the large group that had invaded her home. Meanwhile, her sister is going against cultural norms, when she should have been helping Martha serve.

Have you ever been in a similar situation?  Maybe you’re having friends over for dinner and your family is watching tv or playing games on their cell phone while you try to cook and clean and create an atmosphere that will bless your company.  The more you hurry the angrier you get.  Before you know it, you’re comparing yourself with them in self-righteousness and disgust over their lack of service.

Or maybe comparison has gotten the best of you at church, at work, or at school.  It’s a beast that must be slain!

Comparison is the thief of joy. ~ Theodore Roosevelt

4. A Stressed Out Servant is Careful

Jesus said that Martha was “careful and troubled about many things”.  To be careful is to be anxious, worried, and troubled.  Martha was full of cares and concerns.  And Jesus sees right through her outward expression to her inner turmoil.

She was caught up in her emotions and her mind was spinning from her to-do list. I can just imagine her furrowed brow, tense shoulders, and sharp tone.

With all the busyness of life today, I know many of us are operating as stressed-out servants.  We don’t have to stay there though.  God wants us to be able to minister as blessed daughters of the King. And to respond to chaos with grace and peace.

Galatians 6:9~ And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

4 Steps to Restore Spiritual Serenity

1. Snap out of it!

Jesus says Martha’s name twice, which means he was trying to get her attention. I’ve always heard this read as a gentle, somewhat sympathetic, and loving reproof. But if you look at the other places where God says someone’s name two times, you will see that their minds are so absorbed in something else, that he says their name twice, with force, to get their attention.

• Abraham– Gen.22:10-11, when he was about to sacrifice Isaac.
• Jacob– Gen.46:2, when God spoke to him to reassure him and calm his fears about going to Egypt.
• Moses– Ex.3:4, when God called to him out of the burning bush.
• Samuel– 1Sam.3:10-when God awoke him from sleep to receive his message.
• Simon– Luke 22:31 –Jesus warns Simon Peter of Satan’s desire to sift him as wheat.
• God– Matt.27:46-Jesus cries out to God the Father in agony on the cross.
• Martha– Luke 10:41-Jesus gets on to her for complaining.
• Saul– Acts 9:4–when Jesus knocks Saul down on the road to Damascus on his way to persecute Christians.

2. Sit at His feet 

Mary’s posture is one of a submissive servant looking up to her Lord.  To restore spiritual serenity, and do the one thing that is needful, we must sit at Jesus’ feet. Our eyes have to be on Jesus, waiting to hear his instructions, seeking his will for our lives.

Sitting at the feet of Jesus will take intentional effort on our part.  We have to humble ourselves, reorder our priorities, and eliminate distractions.

Psalm 123:1-2- Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens. Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that he have mercy upon us. 

3. Soak up His Word 

Mary didn’t just sit at his feet, she also heard his word. She’s not resting, sitting around doing nothing.  That’s not the solution for stress (although sometimes a good nap is exactly what we need). The answer is digging into the Bible, aligning your thoughts and will with God’s.

Saturate your mind with spiritual truth so you can be sober, and serve in the Spirit. The word restores us to right thinking and replenishes what the world has taken away. Soaking up the scriptures is refreshing!

4. Suffer your flesh 

Mary chose to do this. You have the choice to sit down and read your Bible instead of checking social media, watching TV, or whatever else your flesh entices you with. Tell your flesh NO!

Romans 13:14~ But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.

When you choose to put Jesus over everything else, you are making an eternal investment.  Your reactions, responses, and your relationships will be governed by the word of God instead of your emotions. And peace will dominate your life instead of stress.

Are you a stressed-out servant?  God wants you to experience fullness of joy as you serve him.  He desires an intimate relationship with you.

The outward warning signs of stress are really an indication of the inward lack of fellowship with Christ.

If you feel like Martha today, snap out of it, sit at his feet, soak up his word, and suffer your flesh, and you will enjoy the fruit of sweet communion with your Savior. Love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, and temperance… all yours when you choose Christ.

Matthew 11:28-30-Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

More like this:

5 Things That Keep Me Sane in Stressful Seasons

How to be Sober in Stressful Times

The Importance of a Sober Mind for Spiritual Stability

Trade that Stressful Schedule for Simplicity in Christ

Encouragement to Endure in Ministry

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2 Things to Remember to Find Peace in Chaos

19 Bible Verses that Reveal the Will of God

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