“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5 (NIV)

Recently, I had to take a step back for a much needed breather. It felt, for the most part, like I was constantly living in a state of anxiety and exhaustion. You know that feeling; the one that’s akin to putting out wildfires around you while new ones keep popping up? I felt like a hamster running around on a wheel day after day, exhausted when it was all over, with very little to show for it.

Whenever these types of feelings start to gnaw at the edge of our spirits, I believe that it’s time to take stock of what’s really going on at the core. Why we’re doing the things we’re doing, who we’re doing them for, and what our attitudes are while we’re doing them. Unfortunately for me, I was so busy with the running around, I barely paused long enough to analyze my situation. Instead I pressed on tiredly as a faithful soldier, or so I thought, doing what I felt was necessary for myself and those around me.

Finally I had to ask myself, “Of the hundred things you’re doing right now, how many of them is the Lord involved with?” Had I unknowingly run off on my own, doing things without His grace or input? The thing is, it doesn’t matter how honorable our deeds are, we need to ask ourselves, who’s agenda are we actually working on, ours, God’s or other people’s?

I can tell you that there were many instances where I found myself in this state of burnout and went into full Martha mode before I realized what the real problem was. “Lord, I’m so tired,” I’d cry. “Why isn’t anybody else helping me? I’m running around here taking care of everyone else, who’s taking care of me? Why do I even bother?”

Sounds familiar? I bet it does. But God, our dear Heavenly Father, who knows us better than we know ourselves, and is acquainted with all of our ways, He waits. He waits and He lets us have our little pity party. And then, when we finally stop to listen, we’ll hear him say “My child, you are worried about many things, but only one thing is really needed, and it is that you sit at my feet and listen.”

I used to feel a little sorry for Martha whenever I read that story in Luke, and maybe some of you can relate. Especially if you have the instinctive nature that makes you want to take care of everything and everyone around you. But Jesus wasn’t chiding Martha because He was unappreciative of her efforts to make Him and the disciples comfortable, He did it because He loved her and didn’t want her to miss out on the opportunity of being in His presence.

When we sit at Jesus’ feet and wait, we would never have to go it alone. When we come before Him, and share with Him our plans, whether it be about ministry or the deepest desires of our hearts, He is included in the details, and can give us direction and grace to carry on in His service. Maybe some things, He’d even ask us to set aside. Those things that we’re doing warily in our own strength and complaining all the while doing them, because it brings us no joy or gratification.

Life is sometimes hard. Don’t make it any harder by leaving Jesus out of the equation. He is the one that gives us grace for the journey; the strength to do all things well so we don’t have to trudge on alone, feeling sorry for ourselves and doing a bunch of things half-heartedly. Instead, we’ll be able to perform each task just as the scripture says: “And whatsoever ye do, do it heartily, as to the Lord, and not unto men;” Colossians 3:23 (KJV)