We live in a messy, messy world full of problems. Most of us spend each day running from one fire to the next, focused on the muck we’re slogging through. Churning our thoughts over and over in our minds until the stress weighs us down and we’re ready to snap at the next person who looks at us sideways.

Or worse, we blame God for failing to help us, accusing Him of not caring.

Take Mary and Martha, for example. Martha was running around trying to prepare a feast for Jesus and all the people He brought with Him.

Completely understandable, right? There are people in her home and they need food. She has genuine needs for a real problem.

But what was truly the problem?

Martha’s focus.

She fixed her gaze on her problems—too much to do, too little time, no one to help, and Jesus didn’t seem to care.

Meanwhile, Mary was sitting there, at Jesus’ feet, soaking in His presence, transfixed by his words, oblivious to Martha.

Martha must’ve been fuming. I can only imagine what she was thinking… Maybe something like, That no good, lazy, sister of mine. Shirking her responsibilities while I run around like a chicken with my head cut off. What’s she doing there, anyway? Nothing, that’s what. Why isn’t she helping me? Surely she hears me clanging around and knows I need help. We have a house full of people in need of food. And Jesus, just chatting away to her like there’s no problem. Why doesn’t He say something? Why doesn’t He tell her to help me? Does He even care?

Martha must’ve been fuming something awful to approach Jesus as she did. I picture her stomping into the room with her hands on her hips, chin jutted in indignation, toe tapping with impatience. “Lord, don’t you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!” (Luke 10:40b)

Yikes!

Martha’s thoughts must’ve spiraled downward to a pretty dark place to talk to Jesus that way. But does Jesus lash out at her? No. He gives her a soft rebuke.

“Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”

Luke 10:41-42

Ah, Mary. There are so many Martha’s in this world who would judge you for being lazy when, in fact, you have stumbled upon a great secret—spending time with the Problem Solver.

Don’t focus on the problem.

Focus on the Problem Solver.

Mary was at complete peace at Jesus’ feet, full of joy.

Were there things to be done? Sure. But I wonder what would have happened if Martha had joined Mary. Would someone have arrived with food? Would Jesus have performed another miracle?

Or, what if rather than fume and assume Jesus didn’t care, Martha had worked as if working for the Lord? Because… she was. Literally. What if she puttered around the kitchen, preparing a meal for Jesus and His followers with a song in her heart and a whistle on her lips, praising God as she worked? What if she had basked in the honor of serving Jesus?

It starts with a decision.

Are you going to focus on the problem?

Or are you going to focus on the Problem Solver?

Mary chose the latter. She made the better choice. Jesus Himself would not take that from her.

My friend, we can do this too!

Every minute of every day, we have a choice to make. Will we look at the problem—the messy, messy world? Or will we lift our gaze above the muck and mire to the Problem Solver above?

Even Jesus looked up at His Father. When the devil tempted Him, He prevailed because He focused on His father, not His grumbling stomach.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

Matthew 4:1-4

What will happen if you decide to look up? Will your circumstances change? Will God solve the problem for you?

Maybe.

Or maybe He’ll simply change your attitude—your heart.

Either outcome is a win. All we need to do is fix our gaze on Jesus.

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. If you look at God you’ll be at rest.”

Corrie Ten Boom

Look up, my friend. Look up.

You are loved,

J F Rogers