Too Busy to Breathe
Somewhere between being responsible and being needed, I started disappearing. Responsibilities stacked up. Needs multiplied. And along the way, I quietly moved myself to the bottom of the list. That is where I found myself, present for everyone else, absent for me.
When life feels heavy, survival takes over. You focus on what has to be done, what cannot wait, and what will fall apart if you stop moving. When you are caring for family, kids, or people who rely on you, that weight can feel constant. You keep pouring out because you love them, because you are needed, and because you want to hold everything together. Caring for yourself starts to feel optional, even selfish. You tell yourself you will come back to it later, when things calm down. But later rarely comes.
Scripture shows us this tension through Martha. In Luke 10, Martha is busy, responsible, and doing what needs to be done. She is preparing, serving, and carrying the load of making sure everyone is cared for. When she asks Jesus to notice her effort, He responds gently but clearly. “Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed, or indeed only one” (Luke 10:41–42). Jesus does not shame her work. He names what it is doing to her on the inside.
Martha’s story is not about choosing idleness over responsibility. It is about noticing what gets lost when urgency takes over. Martha was doing good things, but she was doing them at the expense of her own presence, peace, and attention to Jesus. Her care for everyone else slowly crowded out care for her own soul.
This happens to many women. We do not stop caring for ourselves because we do not believe we matter. We stop because we are stretched thin, mentally taxed, and trying to meet everyone else’s needs first. Self-care can begin to feel like one more demand we do not have the capacity to manage. So we keep going, even when our bodies and hearts are quietly asking us to slow down. In moments like this, Scripture offers a different definition of strength than the one we usually follow. “In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength” (Isaiah 30:15). Strength, in God’s eyes, is not constant motion. It is learning when to pause and who to trust.
Jesus’ response to Martha reminds us of something important. God does not measure faithfulness by how much we carry. He invites us to choose what sustains us, even in demanding seasons. Sitting at His feet is not neglect. It is nourishment. Tending to yourself is not abandoning responsibility. It is wisdom that allows you to keep showing up with a steadier spirit.
If this is your season, start small and make it real. Take a short walk. Step outside and breathe. Drink water before you do anything else. Sit quietly with a few verses. Do one small thing that reminds you that you matter too. God is not asking you to fix everything. He is inviting you to notice yourself again, gently and without guilt.
Reflection & Journaling
Where have I quietly placed myself last because everything else felt urgent?
What has been weighing most heavily on my mind and body?
What is one small way I can care for myself today without guilt?
Quiet Prayer
Lord, you see how much I am carrying. Help me notice where I have pushed myself aside. Teach me to choose what sustains my spirit, even in busy seasons. Remind me that caring for myself can be an act of trust in You. Amen.