Calming an Anxious Heart
“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part” (Luke 10:41-42).
Internal Battles
I was sitting in my pew during the Christmas Eve Vigil Mass, having just gotten back from receiving the Eucharist. I did my best to bring my full focus to Jesus and to reflect on the beautiful gift he had given me: himself. However, as Mass came closer to ending, I felt more and more anxious to return home, as I had a Christmas party planned for that evening. While I attempted to turn my thoughts back to Jesus, I found my list of last-minute party preparations going through my head.
Suddenly the words “Martha, Martha, you worry about too many things” rang clearly in my mind, drowning out my anxious thoughts. It hit me then that I needed to remember why I was hosting this party in the first place—to celebrate the arrival of our Lord and Savior into the world. This realization helped me dismiss all my worrisome thoughts and to surrender my heart fully to Jesus. This moment during Mass has stayed with me, even as we moved back into Ordinary Time, because I find that I am constantly worried about even the small things in life and allow them to rob me of my peace.
It is so easy to get lost in our daily lives – work, school, taking care of kids, etc. With so many tasks on our plates, we can get stuck under their pile and find it challenging to come back up. We constantly worry about making sure that everyone around us is satisfied and that our work is perfect in appearance. Of course, God calls us to serve others through our labors; and as Catholics we are often encouraged to offer up our sufferings. This does not mean, however, that we should keep pushing ourselves to where we lose our inner peace. We should especially not busy ourselves so much that our relationship with God is put on the back burner.
Finding Rest in Jesus
As Jesus tells Martha in the Book of Luke, we need not be anxious or worried about things. We must remember that Jesus is always with us and that he is on our side. No, that does not mean everything will be 100% perfect all the time. Things may not happen the way we intended them to; and that is OK. We are all broken people who make mistakes, but Jesus comes to make us whole. He just asks that we surrender our hearts to him—worries and all. This is easier said than done; believe me, I know. That is where real faith must come in. Despite feelings of stress, we must trust that Jesus will help us carry our burdens, as he comes to make them light (Matthew 11:29-30).
In effort to be more like Martha’s sister, Mary, casting aside troubles and trusting in Jesus, there are daily steps that we can take:
Pray the Surrender Novena
This short novena prayer is a great way to give up our worries to Jesus and trust that he will take care of them.
Say the Rosary Daily
The Rosary only takes 15 minutes each day and helps us to bring our focus away from the world as we meditate on the life of Jesus.
Receive Holy Communion
Receiving the Eucharist at Sunday Mass is so important. Jesus is our spiritual food, and he makes us stronger when we receive him. If possible, try to attend Mass during the week for extra nourishment of your soul.
Talk to God
Find time within your busy day to sit quietly and talk to God. Prayer does not have to be hard; it can be as easy as talking to a friend. Tell him what is going on in your life, and express your feelings. He will hear you. Even when going about your daily work, you can keep your heart close to God, saying small prayers such as, “I love you, Jesus.”
Whether our anxieties are over big or small things, we can hand them all over to God. As St. Padre Pio said, “Don't worry to the point of losing your inner peace.” As we go about work, school, or homemaking, raising our hearts to God will allow us to remain peaceful. Remember: He loves us and is always good! Jesus will never abandon you.
Rebekah Davidson has lived in Ohio all her life. She has degrees in both business management and journalism, and is pursuing a freelance writing career. Apart from writing, she enjoys traveling, reading, and playing piano and guitar. She is a big fan of St. Thérèse, her confirmation name, and all things Martin family. She is currently working on launching a Catholic-themed blog in 2023.