It’s a stunning thought to think that God wants to be our friend, isn’t it? Amy Boucher Pye draws us closer to this reality.
Elisa
Our Best Friend Ever
Amy Boucher Pye
“Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion?
Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life.
I’ll show you how to take a real rest.
Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced rhythms of grace.
I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly”
(Matthew 11:28–30, The Message).
Are you tired and burnt out?
I think many of us are. I know I am. The effects of juggling too many things in these uncertain times of rising prices and political discontent, along with all of the personal concerns we carry, can drain us down to the sludgy reserves at the bottom of the tank. Added to that, we might layer an unhelpful conception that as Christian women we’re called to be “Mary’s” over “Martha’s”—that we should be being instead of usually doing for Jesus. That we’re getting it all wrong. And that God is somehow disappointed with us.
Friends, God’s not disappointed in us. We only need to delve into the three gospel stories about Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, the beloved siblings from Bethany, to witness the life-changing love of Jesus. As we see there, Mary and Martha are so much more than two characters reduced to a stereotype. Jesus loved them as they were—and then he changed them to become more of the people he’d created them to be. He asked Martha to focus on the “one thing necessary” (see Luke 10:42), but he also affirmed her when she declared that he was the Messiah (see John 11:27). She’s the only women in the New Testament to make this groundbreaking statement, and only one of about three there with this insight. Jesus welcomed Mary to sit at his feet and learn from him when that was a cultural taboo, but he also brought her out of her desolate grief and loss of belief in him when her brother died. And as for Lazarus—well, Jesus brought about the biggest change ever in him, namely bringing him back to life!
As we can see, Jesus loves his dear friends—them and us—no matter what emotions we’re feeling and what situations we’re facing. He meets us right where we are, invites us to quiet ourselves and gaze on him, and welcomes us to receive his peace, strength, renewal, love, and whatever we need in the moment. He answers the pleas of our heart, even as he did for Martha and Mary and Lazarus.
Do you have a few moments, right where you are, whether in line at a grocery store, or waiting for your kids at soccer practice, or sitting with an ear out for the receptionist to call your name, or relaxing at home with a cup of something cheering? I invite you to rest in the presence of God, welcoming Jesus through the Holy Spirit to give you whatever you need. You could read though the story about the sisters and Jesus in Luke’s gospel (Luke 10:38–42) several times, asking God to highlight a word or phrase that you can turn over in your mind. Some suggestions: “sat at the Lord’s feet,” “listening to him,” “don’t you care?” “worried and upset,” “one thing needed,” “the better way,” “won’t be taken away.”
Read and ponder and pray and receive and rest. You might want to jot down in a journal or on your phone any insights you receive in the moment so that you can consider them later.
Know that Jesus loves you as a friend. He wants you to share with him all of your feelings, thoughts, concerns, and joys. He’ll send to you his living water to wash away the sludge and fill your tank with refreshing, crystal-clear liquid. As the prophet Isaiah said long ago, “Hey there! All who are thirsty, come to the water!” (Isaiah 55:1, The Message).
Amy Boucher Pye explores these amazing siblings in her new book, Transforming Love: How Friendship with Jesus Changes Us. She’s an author, speaker, retreat leader, and spiritual director who writes for Our Daily Bread and other devotional publications. Her other books include 7 Ways to Pray (NavPress, 2021) and the award-winning Finding Myself in Britain (Authentic Media, 2015). She loved earning her master’s degree in Christian spirituality at the University of London (2017) and lives with her husband and their two teenagers in their spacious but drafty vicarage in North London. Sign up for her monthly newsletter, which features a prayer exercise, and chat with her at amyboucherpye.com