17 On his arrival, Jesus found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. 18 Now Bethany was less than two miles from Jerusalem, 19 and many Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them in the loss of their brother. 20 When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went out to meet him, but Mary stayed at home. – John 11:17-20
In this passage, we see 2 reactions to Jesus. We see Martha going out to meet Jesus while we see Mary stay at home. We’re not told of Mary’s motivation for not going with her sister, but there’s this picture of Martha seeking and stepping towards Jesus in her time of sorrow, while Mary seems content to seek comfort in the crowd that had come to them.
It’s easy to become overwhelmed by the constant flow of stories about sickness, death, and disaster. But do you step towards Jesus and bring your sadness, fear, or anxiety to him – finding comfort in him – or do you distract yourself with things in the world for comfort?
Spend some time with God. Sit in the quiet and listen for what he might be saying to you. Respond to him in prayer. Bring what you’re feeling before him, and ask him to help you seek him first.