Keeping Our Focus

Matthew 14:28-31 (NLT) ²⁸ Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, walking on the water.”  ²⁹ “Yes, come,” Jesus said. So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus. ³⁰ But when he saw the strong wind and the waves, he was terrified and began to sink. “Save me, Lord!” he shouted.  ³¹ Jesus immediately reached out and grabbed him. “You have so little faith,” Jesus said. “Why did you doubt me?”

Sometimes we go through life and things seem to be pretty good; no major troubles or downfalls going on.  We have our focus on God and walking out the life that He has placed before us and all seems to be right with the world.  Then, all of a sudden something will happen to distract us.  We think to ourselves ok, no problem I can handle this; then bam…something else happens and before we know it our focus is on the problem instead of the one who can carry us through it all.  These distractions aren’t always huge issues either.  Sometimes they can simply be daily distractions but, after we give them so much time and attention soon our focus is completely lost in them. 

Peter’s focus was on Jesus when he asked Him to allow him to walk on the water with Him, but as soon as something distracted him he began to sink.  Can you imagine how amazing that must have been for Peter to walk with Jesus on the water before he started to sink?  I dare compare it to the feeling that we still have today when things are so peaceful because we are following God; when we can feel His amazing presence in our lives guiding us through.  Then, just as Peter was distracted by the waves and started to sink, something happens in our lives that causes us to lose focus on God and we too begin to fall victim to it.           

Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV) ¹ I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? ² My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.

I’m telling you I can probably recall time after time when I’ve thought I was good…like everything was under control and I felt at peace.  Then, just like that, something would happen to distract my focus from God.  Being honest; it’s not always this huge life changing problem either, sometimes I just give too much time and attention to something or someone in place of God.  Everything from true hard times in life to allowing social media to be the center of my attention has caused me to lose sight of God and drown in the world. 

The fact of the matter is we are always going to have problems.  There is always going to be some type of trouble, distraction or heartache waiting for us around the corner.  I mean that is the enemy’s job…right? The blessing in that is that we always have our Heavenly Father to look to and guide us.  This scripture tells us that our help comes from the Lord…the Maker of heaven and earth.  So certainly He can order our steps through any trials we may come to. 

Now, trust me, by no means will I say this is always easy or even that it will be the first thought in our minds when distractions and problems arise.  However, the second we notice that our attention is focused on the problem at hand and pray for help and guidance from God the stronger our faith will become.  As our faith becomes stronger our focus on God also becomes stronger and the trials of this world won’t have the hold on us that they once did. 

I’m sure many of us have heard the saying “Don’t tell God how big your problems are, tell your problems how big your God is.”  When we allow Him to be our main focus and drive in life we can make it through anything.  I’m so grateful for a God who loves me enough to take me by the hand and lead me through this life.