Frustration is the state of being we find often ourselves in when efforts, plans and desires are hindered or prevented that lead us to becoming upset, agitated or simply tired.
When Yah'shua appeared at Lazarus' home in Bethany, Martha was thrown into a tizzy or frenzy of busyness and worry. She wanted above all things to welcome and honour the Master but there was an overwhelming amount to do!
She may have been nearly ready in a practical sense when Yah'shua and His talmidim (disciples) arrived, but spiritually she was far from ready for Him. And it didn't improve her temper when she saw her sister Miriyam (Mary) sitting with the talmidim and listening to Yah'shua, just as if she has been one of His entourage herself. She appealed to Yah'shua:
"Master, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" (Luke 10:40, NIV).
But Yah'shua would not stop Mary from listening to His teaching when she had the chance. He said:
"Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:42, NIV).
Now of course what Yah'shua was talking about was eternal life, which was infinitely more important than the next meal.
It is easy for us to get our priorities wrong when we are tired and busy. Turning to Yahweh in prayer may not solve our immediate problems but it can both help us to see what is really important and worthwhile, as well as give us the grace to accomplish what must be done with a right heart and mind.
We meet Mary and Martha again in John 11-12 where the rôles were reversed and it was Mary who needed right perspective. At this time of tragedy, at the death of their brother Lazarus, Yah'shua had words of encouragement for both of them.
Yah'shua used Martha's frustrations to teach her a valuable lesson. He can do the same for us if we will simply allow Him too.
It is often said that there are two types of people in the world - Martha's who like to be active, and Mary's who like to be passive and listen. I think it would be be more accurate to say that we all have these two sides in our own nature but that perhaps one tends to predominate over the other - sometimes it is appropriate to use one side, sometimes the other. For a modern revelation that explains these two sides, please take a look at The Mary-Martha Principle.
If we listen to Yahweh first, as Mary did, we will be better equipped for the situations we find ourselves in in life and also have much more inner shalom (peace).
May our prayer be that Yahweh grant us that quietness of mind and heart so that we can hear Him speaking to us in every situation. Amen.
