New Focus

You ever feel like you’ve put so much of your attention into a problem or situation, but can never seem to fix it or come up with a solution?  Day in and day out you attempt to focus and find a better way for whatever it is that is consuming you and your mind.  Sometimes to the point of feeling like a failure and falling deeper and deeper into despair; it’s all you think about and all you can do to keep your head above water.  Through experience, I’ve learned that sometimes our biggest revelations and growth can come when we stop focusing on our own mess or problems and look to help someone else. 

God doesn’t want us so consumed with ourselves that we forget to do His work here on earth; and when we can’t see past our own stuff that is exactly what we are doing.  When we are so focused on ourselves and our problems we can become clouded and bogged down with pain and confusion.  It can make our issues seem like they are getting bigger and bigger with no end or solution in sight.  It can also cause great depression and anxiety which intensifies the situation or problem. 

Something else, that we probably don’t want to hear, is that staying completely focused on ourselves and issues can sometimes be a selfish act.  It’s hard to swallow, but anything that we put before or above God is wrong!  If we are spending all our time worrying about current problems and how we can fix them, while falling deeper into them, we are not putting God first in our lives. This is also where we depend too much on ourselves to “fix” things instead of trusting God…when we dwell on it, instead of leaving it with Him. 

Matthew 5:16 (NLT) ¹⁶ In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.

When we can begin to see past ourselves and reach out to others God can begin to heal, transform and strengthen our own spirits.  It not only shows Him that we trust Him for our own lives, but that even in the midst of going through it we still want others to see and know Him.  You know, it’s my opinion that much of what we go through is not just for our own growth…but, for the growth and guidance of someone else.  I do not unrealistically believe that we can just cast all of what we are going through to the side.  However,  I do feel that if we would take a step back from it for a moment and focus our attention on something or someone else that we open the door for our own healing…while being a blessing to someone else. 

Philippians 2:4 (NLT) ⁴ Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too.

There was a time when I was consumed with what was going on in my own life, when I thought I had to figure it all out.  I tried this and that to fix everything I thought needed fixed only, to find out that my own personal plans never worked… but when I stepped back and focused on something else God began to reveal things to me.  While He was using me to bless others, He was also healing me and transforming things in my current situation by showing me what to do and how to control what I could control and trust Him to take care of the rest. 

Now, I’d love to tell you that I’ve come to a place where I no longer resort back to focusing solely on some of the things I’m going through…but, truth is I still find myself there from time to time.  It’s then that I pray that God will direct my path and focus to where He wants it to be instead of where my emotions are at the time.  I am a work in progress and I am ever grateful to God that He is still here guiding my path and never giving up on me.  I’m also thankful that He offers the same to you!