Get It Back: When you feel like you’re losing it.

Luke 10:38-42

We don’t usually lose our peace or clarity all at once — we lose it slowly as the noise, pressure, and responsibilities of life quietly pile up. We keep pushing ourselves to manage everything until we realize we’re exhausted, unsettled, and emotionally overloaded. Even when nothing seems “wrong,” our minds and hearts can feel heavy, restless, and worn down from carrying too much for too long. This week, we will talk about how people lose their minds without even realizing it, and what we can do about it.

  1. Think about your typical morning routine. What are the first three things that usually demand your attention when you wake up? How do you think this sets the tone for your entire day?
  2. Pastor James talked about how “most people don’t lose their mind in a breakdown, they lose it in the buildup.” What stood out to you about this idea? Have you ever experienced this kind of gradual buildup of pressure?
  3. Read Luke 10:38-42. In this passage, Martha’s progressed from “devoted to depleted.” What specific details do you notice about Martha’s behavior and emotional state throughout this story?
  4. Martha wasn’t doing anything wrong initially – she was being responsible and hospitable. What was the actual problem that Jesus addressed? How does this differ from how you might have understood this passage before?
  5. Pastor James explained three stages of losing your mind: distraction, worry, and being upset. Can you explain each stage in your own words? How did Luke 10:40-41 illustrate this progression in Martha’s experience?
  6. When Jesus said “few things are needed—or indeed only one” in Luke 10:42, what was He really offering Martha? According to the sermon, why was this relief rather than a rebuke?
  7. Pastor James talked about the difference between urgent and essential things. How would you define each of these based on the message? Why is it so easy to confuse the two?
  8. The sermon mentioned that “urgency speaks in the language of ‘I have to.'” What are some “I have to” statements that frequently run through your mind? How do these thoughts affect your inner peace?
  9. Jesus offered Martha (and us) a different question to ask: “Jesus, what matters most right now?” instead of “What do I have to do?” How might this shift in questioning change your approach to a current stressful situation in your life?
  10. Pastor James mentioned that “before you do anything for Jesus, you have to receive from Jesus.” What does this mean to you personally? What might you need to receive from Jesus before you continue serving or working?

ACTION STEPS

Choose one day this week to intentionally sit at Jesus’ feet (like Mary did) before diving into your to-do list. Spend 10-15 minutes in His presence, listening rather than talking or asking for things. You might pray something like this:

“Jesus, I’m honestly tired of feeling like I’m losing my mind. I’ve been carrying so much, trying to control so many things, and I realize I’ve been living in constant reaction mode. Right now, I want to sit at Your feet like Mary did. Help me surrender the things I’ve been carrying that were never mine to hold. When my mind starts racing with all the ‘I have to’ thoughts, remind me to ask You what matters most. I don’t want urgency to be the loudest voice in my life anymore – I want You to be my governing voice. Give me the wisdom to know the difference between what’s urgent and what’s essential. Help me receive from You before I try to do anything for You. I trust You to carry what I cannot. Thank you for not shaming me when I’m overwhelmed, but for calling my name with compassion and offering me rest. Let the shadow of your presence cover me and my household as I sit at your feet this morning, Amen.”