Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
I had been wrestling with message that God placed on my spirit since hearing a Bible Study by Dr. Lovely Rahming on March 7, 2025 that was in response to a Women’s Conference: I Survived It. Dr. Rahming shared so many nuggets that instead of me focusing and quieting myself, I got quickly (what I thought was being overwhelmed) distracted. You see God had given me something that He placed on my heart for what I thought was for others but I’m here to tell you that it wasn’t meant for others. The message God gave me, was for me! And instead of focusing on the jewels in front of me, I took my focus on what God was saying to me through Dr. Rahming and because of that I missed the mark!
So over the next few weeks as I wrestled with “putting a devotional out there”, I quickly grew frustrated because of all the “busyness”. In fact it seemed that at times things were going so fast paced I couldn’t keep up and again I thought I was overwhelmed. It wasn’t until I listened to Steven Furtick entitled, “You’re Not Overwhelmed. You’re Distracted,” that I realized I was allowing certain things that I could have honestly redirected to other people to help me stay focused.
“Stop putting pressure on things that rob your peace.”
Steven Furtick
I had to listen to that sermon 3 or 4 times in different sittings to really dig in to what the Lord was saying through this man of God.
Instead of asking God to allow me to have quiet moments where life wasn’t so busy, I had to learn to be more adaptive and learn to dance in the rain!
Dance or Die!
Steven Furtick
After spending some much needed time in God’s word, I decided to read up on Martha of Bethany, her sister Mary, and brother Lazarus. When you have some time I urge you to read for your own understanding Luke chapter 10 (memory verses 38-42) and John chapter 11 (memory verse 27).
It wasn’t until I had my own “Martha Martha” moment that I realized that what God was saying to me on March 7, 2025 through Dr. Rahming, He was trying to get my attention to take heed.
Ya’ll one of my favorite sermons that I remember and took good notes from at NST was about Peter in the boat. Scripture reference that day was from Matthew 14:22-32. Verse 30 reads, But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” Verse 31 reads, Jesus immediately reached out His hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt me?”
I’m sure we have all had our moments in life were like Peter we take our eye off of Jesus. We allow the distractions of social media, children, marriage or relationship, cooking, work, sports, washing the car or whatever else to take away where we should be focusing.
I admit the last few months I’ve been so overwhelmed it is hard to breathe at times. No one would probably know besides the ones in my household but at times I felt like I was suffocating. Suffering financial hardships where you don’t see the end of financial strife can be suffocating. Transparent moment: I’ve picked up a part time job that I believe was given to me by God (something I want to do) but so distracted by the financial needs that I began to resent certain things and out of frustration got wrapped up in the financial side of things instead of continuing to thank God for His answer to prayer.) My full time pays the bills but this additional part time along with Dolly’s House of Clothing Ministry, Inspiration All Around Me, and Spry’s Durty Kitchen are my passion/they are the reason I do what I do!
Going back to Steven Furtick’s saying of “Dance or Die,” my actions were showing I’m going to dance but on the inside I was dying just a little bit daily. It wasn’t until I was re-introduced to a beautiful child of God by the name of Veronica Walker (thanks Mr. Richard Hammond for the connection) that I had a personal “Martha Martha” moment. Verse 41-42 of Luke 10 says, But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, are you anxious and troubled about many things,” but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
I can’t remember what Ms. Veronica Walker said but it was a 💡 moment and God humbled me in this moment. God allowed me to just STOP GOING THROUGH THE MOTIONS and “being busy” and He allowed me to have the opportunity to be in communion with Him. I’ll never forget my encounter with Ms. Walker and I’m forever grateful that she took the time to bless me with her presence, her time, and her donations to Dolly’s House that put some pizzazz in the Boutique.
Like Martha I am guilty of trying to things right and sometimes to perfection that I loose sight of the person I’m doing it for in the first place. While I do not do anything to impress folks or for a pat on my back, I get caught up in wanting things to look a certain way that it causes worry and stress and unnecessary anxiety that robs me of the peace, joy, and happiness from serving God. In studying I see that Mary didn’t worry about the house this particular day, how the table was spread, or how the food tasted…no she sat at Jesus’ feet and listened to Him.
Scholars say that Martha was guilty of being “too hospitable” and she was angry with Mary and wanted Jesus to tell her to do something because she was mad she had to do all the cooking and cleaning and preparing for Jesus’ visit. I’M GUILTY 10000000 percent! I loose sight and miss the mark plenty of times. I think of how many times I have cooked a meal and too busy making sure it tastes superb that I do not sit down with the people I love to enjoy the meal and take time to fellowship. I’m so focused on cleaning up that it takes the joy of why the “mess was created” in the first place.
Again going back to Steven Furtick’s message, I’m not overwhelmed, I’m distracted by things that simply are not as important to God.
“When you refocus, God refills.”
Steven Furtick
Time with Ms. Veronica helped me to see it was for me to refocus. It was time for me to reset and set aside the things that were robbing my peace and that time that God wanted me to set aside to be with Him. Our God is a jealous God and I’ve experienced Him getting my attention in several ways the last week that included my carpel tunnel acting up to the point I can’t text, I can’t write, I can’t respond…I’ve had a migraine that forced me to send the phone to voicemail instead of always being the person that is readily available for everyone in their time of need, and then let’s not talk about finances (I digress?!).
Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because He cares for you. Be sober-minded; be careful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeming someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while; the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.
1 Peter 5:6-11
Lesson learned: Slow down, say “no”, don’t get overwhelmed by things that are distracting you from spending time with God, not all distractions are bad, it’s not about self, it’s not our timing or our plan but ONLY ABOUT GOD’S WILL AND HIS TIMING, it’s okay to have characteristics of Martha because Jesus loved and adored Mary of Bethany, it’s okay to be who God created you to be, don’t change for anyone, it’s okay to be busy BECAUSE GOD created rest for us to refuel, refocus, and get back to it. These are all things I’ve known but again it was the time I spent with Ms. Veronica Walker that allowed me to really hone in on what God was saying FOR ME! He said it to me for me! I had to be selfish and sit on this one as I feasted in His Word. So grateful for the time with Him. I pray that I’ll never be so busy with day to day things that I’m not intentional on prioritizing and focus only on God with tunnel vision.
Thank you Lord for allowing me to cast my anxieties on You and for caring for me ever so tenderly. Thank you Lord for your grace and mercy. Thank you God for speaking through folks like Lovely and Ms. Veronica and for folks who help me to do Your will. God decrease Whitnee’ and increase You Lord so folks know it’s not nor has it been nor will it ever be about Whitnee’ but all honor and glory is due to You dear God. Heavenly Father, help me to be a better servant to You, help me learn healthy boundaries of what it means to balance life, worship, family, work, friends, and being hospitable. Lord God I need Your help in moments when I am weak and easily anxious or distracted, help me to focus on You and the task You have given me so I can be of Your service. Heavenly Father thank you for parents that dedicate their lives to You and gave me the blueprint for what it means to be of Your service. Lord God thank You for allowing me to see that even in the midst of grieving, sickness, pain, financial hardship, even cancer Lord that You blessed my sweet mom, Willia Davis, to do Your will. Thank you God for giving me her Lord Jesus and I ask for forgiveness when I was young and ignorant and didn’t understand her servant heart and took her for granted. Lord I thank you for the many “Martha Martha” moments you’ve given me and I ask for forgiveness when I missed the mark and not understanding what it was you were saying because I was distracted and lacked focus or understanding. God you are my priority, it is You who I serve and only You and I vow never to put anyone or anything before You again. Lord I surrender all to You Lord, I give you my all and I give You my entire heart and my Yes! Like Tasha Cobb said, “For Your glory, I will do anything.” I want to be where You are Lord, I gotta be where You are. You are my peace. You are my joy, you are my hope for tomorrow. I love you Lord, I worship You Lord, I need you Lord.
As I come to a conclusion I want to leave you with my notes from Dr. Rahming’s message:
- Declaring a Blessing over my life.
- Consider the promise….
- Correct the perspective….
- Assume the position…
- Dropped but not destroyed!
- I Survived It….Now what…NOW WE WORK!!!!
It’s time to get back to Jesus, it’s time to stop being overwhelmed and getting distracted, it’s time to have tunnel vision (stop worrying about DEI, Trump, and all this other stuff) focus on God. Focus on Jesus!
Amen somebody.
Amen! I am working of the tunnel vision! Whoa! I needed this. You know every time I tell you when I got home, I just went to sleep and you said good…my mind would drift to Martha and how she rested at Jesus’s feet. I can’t remember if it was Steven Furtick that I was watching who said just resting in Jesus’s presence is enough. I have my silent moments when I get lost in my thoughts about all my loved ones that have passed on and I go into this silent cry about them. I miss them so much. I miss the conversations and the laughter. I even miss the fighting….Have you ever felt that way? Olivia can be nasty to me again just so that I can hear her voice and my heart would be smiling on the inside because of the love that God says we are suppose to have. To hear Deanna say hello little girl…I mean I can close my eye and hear her say it would give me chills. I hear Marc all the time at work through different people….heard some older people say catch up mustard and I ain’t seen you in a month of Sundays. My oh my how I miss them but God has a way of bringing “them” back into my presence and I am silently crying reminiscing the good and bad times we had. Through my pain, I tell myself to keep going. I keep going because I need to fulfill God’s purpose. I am constantly being distracted but I press my way through. Steven Furtick is constantly on my computer screen at work. I feel as though God is getting through to me and He is. My focus is on Jesus and I am in need of the plan that Has laid out of me. Amen Whitnee.
Amen like you told me about my mom, all of your loved ones are with you daily. That’s why God gives us memories.
Wonderful way to put things into perspective.
I’m so glad you was able to focus and write. Yes we need to take that extra step to listen and spend time with God even in the midst of what tries to distract us. God is working things out for you and the family in little ways that you can’t see. I’m truly proud of you especially with all that you are faced with daily but you keep on keeping on.
But God. 🙌🏾