You Are Not Too Much - Encouragement for Today - April 1, 2026

Encouragement for Today

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Alice Matagora April 1, 2026

You Are Not Too Much
ALICE MATAGORA

“‘Leave her alone,’ said Jesus. ‘Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me.’” Mark 14:6 (NIV)

Editor’s Note: Today’s devotion is part of our Holy Week series! Journey with us as we experience the power of Jesus’ love, remember His sacrifice, and walk in the victory of His resurrection. We pray this series prepares your heart for the joy of Easter. Subscribe now.

This is how I imagine the scene from today’s key verse unfolding …

A woman’s heart swelled with a desire to worship her Messiah. What gift can I offer to the Savior of the world?

Her eyes landed on the alabaster jar of her finest perfume, worth more than a year’s wages. Is it too much? No, it’s perfect. He is worth all I have and more.

When she arrived at the home of Simon the leper, she reverently approached Jesus, broke open the jar, and poured the perfume over His head, weeping in anticipation of His departure from the world.

Then, slowly, she became aware of the disapproving murmurs around the room. The disgusted smirks, the avoidant stares as the other guests willed this awkward moment to pass. She started to question what had previously seemed like an appropriate act of worship. Then one of them confirmed her fears, asking, “Why this waste of perfume?” (Mark 14:4, NIV). They rebuked her affection as a frivolous display. She shrank back in shame.

“‘Leave her alone,’ said Jesus. ‘Why are you bothering her? She has done a beautiful thing to me … you will not always have me. She did what she could. She poured perfume on my body beforehand to prepare for my burial. Truly I tell you, wherever the gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her’” (Mark 14:6-9, NIV).

This scene feels very familiar to me, and I wonder whether it feels familiar to others as well.

I’ve sensed similar resistance in some spaces, even in Christian circles. Whether it’s worship, teaching, or leadership, it can seem like my offerings are less valued than others'. Like I am too much.

How many times have I tried to speak in obedience to the Holy Spirit, only to look up and see smirks, scoffs, or polite indifference from others before they move on to a “real” response? How many times have I been in a room and shrank back in shame because I believed my contribution and perspective were less valuable than those around me?

What I love about Jesus in today’s passage is His declaration of the beauty of this woman’s extravagant act of worship. Whereas His own disciples had argued among themselves about who would be the greatest in the Kingdom of God, misunderstanding Jesus’ kingship and overemphasizing earthly power (Mark 9:34), this woman hung on His every word, and she understood her King was about to lay down His life. She saw His heart, and He saw hers. She understood what would happen later that Holy Week.

And Jesus intervened to defend her. He clarified that she was not in the wrong. She wasn’t too emotional or too expressive in her worship of Him — in fact, she was honoring Him. She discerned His intentions correctly. There was much the disciples could learn from her heart, posture, and worship.

Sisters, God delights in our extravagant acts of love and devotion. He takes joy in the unique ways we choose to worship and serve Him. May we be courageous enough to offer all of ourselves freely for the sake of building up the body of Christ and worshipping our Savior this Easter.

Heavenly Father, thank You that You see our hearts and allow us to see Yours. Because You are pleased with our beautiful acts of worship, we bring the fullness of our worship to You this Easter. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

OUR FAVORITE THINGS

There’s something powerful about knowing thousands of women are opening the same Scripture this week. As we move through Holy Week together, each day is an opportunity to let God’s Word settle deeper — to remind us that the cross was enough and the resurrection changes everything. If you haven’t already, subscribe to receive our Encouragement for Today Devotions so you don’t miss a single day of this eight-day journey — and continue receiving daily biblical encouragement long after Easter Sunday. And as you walk through these reflections, we’d love to hear what God is doing in your heart. Is He strengthening your faith? Meeting you in a hard place? When you’re ready, share how this Holy Week series has impacted your faith. Your story may be the very encouragement another woman needs to keep going.

ENGAGE

You can connect with Alice Matagora and find out more about her first book, How to Save the World: Disciplemaking Made Simple, on her website. You can also follow her on Substack, Instagram, or Facebook.

FOR DEEPER STUDY

Psalm 95:6, “Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the LORD, our Maker!” (ESV).

To read more about what happened on this day of Holy Week, read Mark 14:1-11.

Have you ever held back or felt misunderstood in your worship of God and contribution to His Kingdom? What is your response to Jesus’ delight in your unique and extravagant worship?

What is one thing you can do today to prepare yourself to freely worship the risen King with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength? We’d love to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments.

Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org