It’s time for back to school, back to extra-curriculars, back to a new pace, and back to busyness! So I thought we’d talk a little about the pressures of society. I mean, who hasn’t felt like the doll with the pushed in forehead!! Is it just me?! Even as a homeschool mom and work-from-home wife, societal pressures are part of everyday life.

However, the school year seems to present the expectations. Having the right materials, kids wanting to look “cool,” choosing the right school, having the right friends, choosing the right sports/clubs, and that list goes on and on. But it’s not the end.

You move into the holidays. Preparing the right food to take to a party, hosting a party, making sure to see all the right people/family, buying the right gifts, on and on.

We can’t leave out the sports. Hosting the right party dishes, having the best TV, tailgating the right way, rooting for the right teams, choosing the right brackets, and this list goes on and on.

Those are the fun pressures. We still have the pressures of getting along with coworkers, trying not to offend others, participating in the right volunteer groups, making it to church without looking crazy, and trying to raise kids.

Couple all that with trying to follow Christ in a society that is increasingly turning away from him, and you’ve got some major stress.

If you stop to think about it, a lot of that pressure and stress comes from worry. We worry about what others will think. We worry about not achieving a goal. We worry about backlash. But what does the Bible tell us?

But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.

Matthew 6:33-34

Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down, but a good word makes him glad.

Proverbs 12:25

The best example can be seen in the Bible about Mary and Martha.

Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are 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.”

Luke 10:38-42

Jesus was telling Martha that she was worried about a lot. She was worried about providing dinner, proper manners, being a good hostess, and all the things that go with having invited guests over to your house. She may have even been concerned with entertaining. All those seem like good, normal things, right?

Jesus wasn’t telling Martha that all her serving was bad. He was saying that her priorities were askew. Being with Jesus is the most important thing. The other things will follow. Or maybe they won’t. Either way, the important thing is the time spent with Jesus and doing Jesus’ bidding.

Should we choose to make that our priority, the pressures of society will ease. They will still be there, but our perspective will be in the right place, allowing us to be at peace. Some of those pressures may even turn into joys.

Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.

2 Thessalonians 3:16

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14:17

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