Finding the Perfect Balance

There’s no end to what God can use to get our attention. I had fallen into a place where I felt that my faith was hanging on by a thread. I still believed with my whole heart who Jesus was and that He died for me. Like Martha, who in John 11:27 said, “Yes Lord, I believe that you are the Messiah, the son of God, who is to come into the world”. (Martha is best known for being too busy to have time to sit down and talk with Jesus. John 11:27 NIV is a statement of her faith and it’s the kind of response that Jesus wants us all to have.) I was lacking a perfect balance.

Like Martha, I know who Jesus is and what He did for me. But, I found myself pulling away from God because I felt frustrated and offended that prayer after prayer continued to go unheard. Or, at least that’s what I thought was happening. 

As the church was shut down due to Covid, I used it as an excuse for not drawing into God through the Word and daily prayer. My Bibles collected dust and my prayer life was like scattered breadcrumbs here and there.

I was angry at God!

I was angry at God. So angry at Him that I refused to see the things He was doing in my life. Honestly, I went through the motions to look like I was living a life of faith and I even admitted that to God more than once. I cried out to Him and told Him that I was barely hanging on.  “Why should I bother praying? I don’t even think You’re listening to me.”

It took my snow skiing accident on Christmas Day to really get my attention. Since I was unable to do the busy work around my house due to my injuries, there was no excuse for not taking the time to open my Bible and just sit with God. Digging into His Word, I was filled with peace. Each day I spent time with God. It was amazing what He showed me. God then put it on my heart to go back to church. It became clear to me that even though I was a little broken physically, the pain and the brokenness in my heart needed even more attention. 

Back to the church building

On my first day back in church, I was so moved by one of the songs that I stood up from my wheelchair on my good leg, used the chair in front of me to balance, and raised my one good arm to the Lord in worship. At that moment, God, the Great Physician poured out healing into my heart. 

Daily, I was in the Word and feeling good. Then, I allowed life to get in the way and for three days my bible laid closed. On the fourth day, I made it a point to open my bible before my day began. Have you ever found yourself in the same place? Where days passed by and your bible laid closed?

I was searching for the perfect balance

I asked God to give me something in His Word that I needed to hear. Flipping my Bible open, He brought me to John chapter 11 starting in verse 25. God reminded me that yes, I do believe in His Son, Jesus, and I can make the same statement of faith that Martha made in verse 27 but, I had become a “Martha” in many ways. God simply wants me to make Him a priority as Mary did. He’s not asking me to let the house and my responsibilities go and God’s not asking you to let the house and your responsibilities go either. 

What our Heavenly Father wants from us is to be” Marys” who have the time to sit with Him. And, “Marthas” who can make a statement of faith that says…I know who Jesus is and what He had done for me. 

I am not happy about being injured and needing surgery from my skiing accident. However, I am filled with so much thankfulness because God used my injuries to rekindle the fire in my heart. It is my hope that my story speaks to you. May you find the perfect balance of being a Martha and a Mary.

Kim Chaffin – is the author of “Simply Blessed’ a 31-day devotional from BroadStreet Publishing. She is also the creator of Heartfelt Ramblings of a Midlife Domestic goddess. Contact via www.heartfeltramblings.com, Instagram, and Facebook