Distracted or Devoted? Sitting with Mary and Martha

S – Scripture
Luke 10:38–42 (ESV)
“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’”

Luke, a physician and companion of Paul, wrote this gospel with careful attention to detail. His writing offers us not just a record of events, but a window into Jesus’ heart for His people. In this story, we see the gentle way Jesus redirects Martha’s attention from performance to presence.

O – Observation
Martha’s desire to serve wasn’t wrong — she loved Jesus and wanted to honor Him. But her heart grew restless in the process. She became distracted by the tasks, worried about appearances, and frustrated that she was doing it alone.

Mary, on the other hand, chose to sit at Jesus’ feet. She slowed down. She received. She trusted that listening was more valuable than presenting.

The word that stands out is “distracted.” Martha’s service wasn’t the issue — her distraction was. She missed the nourishment right in front of her because she was tangled in the stress of making everything look perfect.

A – Application (with Trauma Coaching Reflection)
Many of us can relate to Martha. We stay busy, overextend ourselves, or try to make things appear perfect — not only out of love for others but also because busyness can feel safer than stillness.

From a trauma-informed lens, distraction often serves as a survival strategy. When our nervous systems have learned that safety depends on performance, it makes sense that we’d keep striving. For some, being useful, productive, or accommodating was how we once felt loved or secure.

But Jesus’ response to Martha is so gentle, almost like a trauma-informed invitation:
✨ “You are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary.”

Instead of shaming her, He names her state — anxious, troubled — and then points her back to the source of true rest. His presence.

This passage reminds us that our value isn’t measured by how much we do, how well we present, or how others perceive us. The “better portion” is always found at His feet — in being, not performing.

For those of us healing from trauma, this isn’t always easy. Stillness can feel uncomfortable. Rest can feel unsafe. But like Mary, we are invited to practice presence one small step at a time — a deep breath, a moment of stillness, a whispered prayer — trusting that it’s in God’s presence our souls are most nourished.

Somatic Pause
Before prayer, let’s bring our bodies into alignment with this truth:

• Inhale slowly: “I am safe.”
• Exhale gently: “I am loved.”
• Place one hand on your heart and whisper: “I don’t have to perform to be worthy.”

P – Prayer
Lord, thank You for seeing me when I am anxious and distracted. Thank You for reminding me that I don’t have to earn Your love through performance.

Help me release the pressure to strive and instead choose the better portion — sitting with You, listening to Your Word, and letting Your presence be enough.

Teach me to rest, to receive, and to remember that my worth is found in You alone.

Amen.

✨ Friend, maybe you’ve lived like Martha too — busy, anxious, striving to prove yourself. Today, Jesus is offering you the same gentle reminder: You don’t have to perform to be loved. You can sit, you can breathe, you can rest at His feet — and that portion will never be taken away from you.