The Beauty of Our Being.
“The grace given to do is the same grace that was provided for you to be.”
- Jackie Hill Perry [Upon Waking, Pg. 95]
This quote filled me with peace as I let go of the pressures and expectations I had put on myself for the day. As you read today’s devotional, I hope you are reminded of the grace God has provided for us. The freedom to be with the Lord and who we are is a beautiful gift we have been given 😊
Have you ever gotten so caught up in doing something that you forgot to eat?
You were so caught up in your work deadline that you forgot to use the bathroom—you’ve been holding your pee for over 2 hours!
But all you could think about is how it’s you against the clock.
Crunch time, right?
Well, what about this? Has your attention ever been so fixated on one thing that all your other responsibilities and priorities disappear from your mind?
The reason I ask is because I believe Jesus understands. He understood Martha’s intentions—her desire to honor Him through hospitality and service as He stayed in her home.
As Martha busily prepared for Jesus and His disciples’ stay, she was distracted by all she had to do. Her priority became doing instead of being.
Take a look at how Jesus addresses the issue below:
Jesus Visits Martha & Mary | Luke 10:39-42 [NLT]
39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught.
40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”
41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details!
42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.”
The problem wasn’t Martha serving and taking care of her house guests. I mean, this is Jesus, the Messiah, we are talking about. He is the most important house guest of her life!
I understand her desire for everything to be perfect for her Lord because He is perfection personified.
We’ve all had moments when we get swept up in everything we can do—the work, the effort, the performance.
And while those things can be meaningful, they can also distract us, overwhelm us, and fill us with anxiety or stress when we let them become the main thing.
But the lesson Jesus wanted Martha—and all of us—to remember is this: His grace doesn’t just cover our physical efforts.
His grace gives us room to be.
To be present.
To rest.
To explore and to learn.
To grow into who we already are in Him.
Martha’s sister, Mary, was found sitting with Jesus—fully present, soaking in the moment, drawing near to Him.
I’m so grateful for how Jesus responded to Martha. It shows that He cares deeply about our well-being. And He didn’t pit the sisters against one another in comparison or shame.
Instead, He lovingly pointed out what Mary had chosen—not to scold, but to invite Martha in. So she, too, wouldn’t miss the beauty of simply being with Him 💗
I’m reminded of a poem of mine called “Becoming”, where I write:
May I grow to be. May I begin to be. I’m learning how beautiful it is to be. How powerful it is to be. How beautiful I am in my being. I belong to God. I have always belonged to God.
Song on My Heart🎶
I needed Your grace more than I thought I ever would
You forgave more than I thought You ever could
I was stronger in my head but truth is
I need Your graceTake a Moment
📖 Scripture to hold onto: Romans 3:24 [NLT]
Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins.
🙏🏽 Prayer: Lord, quiet the noise in my heart. Help me release the urge to prove my worth through doing. Let my soul find joy in simply being Yours. Remind me that fruitfulness flows from intimacy, not effort. May my life be rooted in Your presence more than my performance. Amen.
💭A question to reflect on: In what areas of my life have I been striving to “do” for God more than I’ve been choosing to simply be with Him?
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