Sermon Title: "Balcony Time With God"
Scripture Reading: Luke 10:38-42
Rev. Carlos Uroza
Before I begin, I want to tell you that Junius Dotson's book Soul Reset has been a refreshing gift. It has genuinely spoken to my life and made me confront some spiritual things I had been neglecting. As I share this message with you today, I speak from a personal experience. My prayer is that as we journey through this sermon series, you may give yourself the gift of a soul reset.
The story of Martha and Mary may be one that we are familiar with. As Jesus travels throughout the villages, he visits Martha and Mary. It is interesting to read that Martha is the one welcomed and received Jesus as her guest. But almost immediately, she became distracted by everything that needed to be done. Martha gets carried away with many things. We find Martha doing what many of us do—she's busy, anxious, and distracted, perhaps making sure everything is perfect.
She becomes frustrated, feeling like she's the only one who cares about getting things done. Meanwhile, Mary sits at Jesus' feet, listening and embracing his presence. At that moment, Martha snaps. Instead of talking directly to her sister, she tattle-tales on her sister to Jesus. Jesus gently replies, "Martha, you are worried and upset about many things, but few things are needed—or indeed only one. Mary has chosen what is better."
Then, the narrative ends. I wish we could have a follow-up. How did Martha respond to Jesus? Did she surrender and sat next to her sister and truly welcome Jesus, not just in her home but in her heart? This is one of the biblical stories that is placed unending in order for us to answer the question. How would I respond to Jesus' words?
Let's consider that for a moment. Jesus wasn't dismissing Martha's hard work or saying that serving wasn't necessary. But He gently reminded her and us that our primary focus should be on Him. Martha was so distracted by what she thought was required that she missed the opportunity to be fully present with Jesus. On the other hand, Mary had chosen to sit at Jesus' feet, listen, and be in His presence.
I want to share a personal story. My family and I recently went on a cruise, looking forward to rest and quality family time. But then, Hurricane Milton hit, and we were stranded out at sea for extra days. That sounded like a blessing, being on a cruise ship extra days in the Caribbean at no extra charge; however, I was supposed to be back by Friday to prepare for Sunday's service. Instead, I was stuck, far away from my responsibilities at church. As the days passed, my anxiety grew as it was difficult to communicate with people back at home. Everything felt out of control.
People kept telling me, "It'll be okay." Still, I kept pushing, figuring out how to organize and manage two worship services from afar. It was difficult to calm my thoughts and anxiety within me.
Looking back, I realize that my anxiety was not just about the following Sunday; it was just the drop of the spill of the glass. Instead of enjoying paradise, I was not in a good place mentally and spiritually. The Stress and exhaustion in my body, mind and soul had reached a limit. This time, I couldn't leave everything behind and run to try to "Fix it." Months of built-up stress, of trying to juggle everything without caring for my soul, came crashing down on me. I hadn't been taking care of myself or my relationship with God.
Junius Dotson wrote, "It was never my responsibility to save anyone, only to point them to Christ and give them the opportunities to help them grow.” This statement felt heavy in my soul. I began to question myself—if I'm not directing my life toward Jesus, how can I lead others to Him? How can I be a faithful disciple if I'm running on empty? I had been so caught up in doing that I had neglected the most essential thing—sitting at the feet of Jesus like Mary.
One night, when I couldn't sleep, and a panic attack was brewing in my soul, I stepped out onto the balcony of the ship and sat in despair. It was dark, and the ocean felt like an infinite void in every direction. I felt so small in the universe, but in my prayer, God met me, and I was reminded of Psalm 46:10—"Be still, and know that I am God." The Lord is God… I am not. I realized I had to let go. I couldn't fix everything, and I wasn't supposed to. God was inviting me to rest, trust, and reset my soul.
I have been so busy with many tasks in life that I have been distracted from caring for my own and my spiritual life. Junius reminds us that "distractions caused by stress often cause us to miss divine opportunities to connect and go deeper with Jesus." When our spiritual life is not connected to the source, it is easy to snap, just as Martha did.
I needed to trust and rely on God and others. It is not all on me.
A soul reset takes time, but it begins with us remembering that we cannot be in control of everything. Instead, taking action is the one thing we can control daily; surrender our lives to the one who visits our lives daily. Would we really welcome him in our hearts and find peace? We are called to point people to Jesus, but it begins with us. I am making a commitment to do a soul reset not just for this season, but constantly for the rest of my life.
I know many of you listening can relate. Maybe you're not a pastor, but you know what it's like to feel the pressure of work, family, and life piling up. Perhaps you've been living like Martha—busy, stressed, trying to keep up with everything, feeling like it all depends on you. But Jesus is saying to you, just like He said to Martha, "Only one thing is needed." And that one thing is to stop, to sit at His feet, and to rest in Him.
Jesus often withdrew to pray. He didn't wait until all the work was done—He took time away in the middle of everything. Jesus illustrated for us what it means to have a daily soul reset, where we step away from the busyness of life and reconnect with God. If Jesus needed to do that, how much more do we?
We need that daily soul reset. Life doesn't stop—it keeps moving, and the demands keep coming, but we can't keep pouring out of an empty cup. We must pause, let go, and allow God to fill us again.
So, I want to invite you today to do just that. Let it go whatever has been weighing you down— whatever you've been trying to manage on your own. Find your "balcony," whether it's a quiet moment in your home, or wherever you can step away. Take time to be still, to sit at Jesus' feet, and let Him reset your soul. That's where true peace is found and where we find the strength to keep going.
Amen.