Articles & Devotionals
Focus on Him
As we learn to adapt to what is becoming our new norm, I am finding in our family that there are underlying feelings of uncertainty, anxiety, stress and definitely some cabin fever. This time at home and away from our normal schedule of life has effectively changed our priorities, erased the events that were once scheduled on our calendars and disrupted our “norms” of life. School, work, recreational activities, time with friends, it has all been disrupted or maybe even eliminated completely.
As a young adult I learned that life is always about change and despite how we all like and enjoy our routines, living in this world brings changes that no one can avoid. We can either push back against it and resist, or choose to go with the flow, but change occurs in life whether we want it or not.
However, one thing that has never changed is our Lord’s love for us, His children. That love is constant and that love should bring us peace when we are faced with those things around us which are out of our control.
Matthew 6:34 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible and so fitting for a time such as the one we all are finding ourselves in today, a time of uncertainty. It reads, “So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
Neither you nor I know what tomorrow will bring or how long this curve ball that has been thrown at us will last. Will it be weeks, months until our lives return to normalcy? What if the economy doesn’t recover? What if my family falls ill? What will happen if I lose my job? The questions and worries seem endless, and though they are valid, I know in my heart that the Lord does not want us to focus on that curve ball, he wants us to focus on Him. With that, He promises us that we do not have to worry about tomorrow – ie, can I find chicken and toilet paper at the store? He knows that Satan will use these things to distract us from our true focus and cause worry and anxiety, but that should not be our focus. Should we plan for tomorrow? Of course we should. James 4:14-15 says –“What do you know about tomorrow? How can you be so sure about your life? It is nothing more than mist that appears for only a little while before it disappears. 15 You should say, “If the Lord lets us live, we will do these things.” What I get out of this is that yes, we are free to plan, but no, we are not to worry and stress. If we start doing that, we need to bring those worries to our Lord in prayer.
My Lord Jesus has me in His hands and He will provide, maybe not how I would hope for, but he will provide for me tomorrow and I need to rest in that Peace. The same is for you. Our job is to focus on Him and focus on today and the things we need to do to keep moving forward as we learn what this new norm is. Each day has its own set of tests, trials and problems. God is calling us to face them head on with the confidence that we know He is our God and He will fulfill all of our needs. Worry is the opposite of that which God has called us to. He is calling us to "trust" in Him and live in faith.
Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; 6 in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” He promises to take care of you. We can't change yesterday, but we can ruin today worrying about tomorrow. Will you trust in Him today for your now and for your future?
