Survivor Secrets: Fix your Focus

Though you have made me see troubles,
    many and bitter,
    you will restore my life again;
from the depths of the earth
    you will bring me up again. 

 You will increase my honour
    and comfort me again.

Psalm 71:20-21 

I have students- both adults and teenagers- under my charge and I find that there is a common trend with all my students. That common trend is stress. My students have a lot of stress and stressors and they cry out in many ways. They may share with me what their problems are or they may act out but the truth is pain is a real thing and there is an immense amount of suffering in the world. 

 

But God our Father calls us away from the harsh realities of the world. He says, "Come away my child."

From my experience with answering this call from our father is that there is something tremendously life changing about being in the presence of the Lord.

  

 

My Testimony

I can remember a time when my family was divided because of differences in beliefs and I had no idea what to think. I never dreamed that the Lord would have handled the situation the way He did but it is a miracle that I am here sharing this story. Guys, I felt overwhelmed and I was just lost in this BIG world until Father spoke to me.

A colleague of mine had not been to work in a while and I was praying for him while I was walking to work. I saw in the spirit that he was emotionally disturbed. I prayed for his mental/emotional health because it seemed as if he had a lot on his plate at the time. After a while, it seemed the spotlight was turned on me. It was our Lord who shone a spotlight on my life. It was then that the walk to work seemed to stretch for miles. This would be one of those times when the Lord was going to connect with me for a very important conversation. I was having issues myself... with my family. It was a spiritual attack I didn't think I was prepared for but I knew one thing: I wasn't going to give up on Almighty God. In all my life, I realized that He never changed. Almighty God is the only constant in my life. He never changes. 

I was praying for my colleague but then the attention turned towards my own pain. I opened up my spirit and I allowed the Lord to shine his light and I saw how disturbed I was by the rift in my family. I was hurting, yet I was blind to the fact that the pain I was experiencing was only the tip of the iceberg. I raised my chin. I looked upwards. I saw a small cloud above me in the calming expanse of blue sky. And he spoke to me. 

Heavenly Father said, "Keep your eyes on me."

Immediately, utterance that came naturally from my spirit, loudly proclaimed, "I'm keeping my eyes on You, Lord!" 

I took no thought about the busy street beside me nor the persons walking to and fro on the sidewalk. I was talking with my Father, the Holy and Living God, the Creator, Sustainer and Ruler of the world and the universe. Everything around me else had dissolved as I worshiped my Father. I asked Him to help me keep my eyes on Him. 

You know, I would like to tell you that I always focused on Almighty God. 

But I didn't. 

Some days I focused on the stress of my job and maybe slept for an hour in the night because I was up marking what seemed like a billion papers to meet reporting season deadlines. 

Some days I focused on my hunger for companionship because I couldn't wrap my head around not having a husband. I was married for little over a decade and now I didn't have any.

Some days my focus was on not having friends who are available whenever I need them. 

Some days my focus was on paying the bills, keeping up with my children's activities, trying to keep my life in order so that I seemed organized when I was really struggling with priorities!

There have been many events, people, things and emotions that gained my focus except the only one who can give me the peace I so desperately needed.

A Promise of Storms 

The truth is that there will be storms (John 16:33) but Christ is in the vessel. The howling winds, the roughest seas, the darkest skies are no match for the light and peace that Christ gives. He is our Light (John 8:12; John 9:5). He is our Peace (Isaiah 9:6; John 16:33). 

Don't look at your shortcomings and condemn yourself. 

Don't look at other people and condemn them because of what they have done. 

Don't look at the events and despair. 

Fix your gaze on Almighty God. There you will find PEACE for your troubled and tossed spirit. 

In his favour is life... Our weeping may endure for a night but JOY comes in the morning (Psalm 30:5)! A precious promise!

Kneel before the Lord Almighty and be still (Psalm 37:7; Psalm 46:10). 

Keep your eyes on Him and allow Him to comfort and counsel you in the midst of the storm.

Christ's Example

Christ Himself would meet with our Father in solitude. He would dismiss the crowds he was serving, and go up to the mountainside to be alone with God.  Matthew 14:22-23; Mark 1:35-37

As the Saviour of the world, Christ still met with our Father in a place that is quiet where He could focus his energy on the power and faithfulness of His Power Source, the Almighty God. Following this example, we would find that although the storms around and within us are raging, there will be a quietness, in our spirit as we wait on and trust in the Lord 

It's Your Turn to Share

How do you maintain focus on the Lord?

• Do you mediate on scriptures during a rough time? If so, which scriptures encourage you to stay focused?

• Do you retreat to a quiet place? Where is your quiet place? 

•  What are the songs you sing?

•  How have you been comforted by the Lord during the storm? 

Share your answers, testimonies and encouragement in the comments. You may just save a life!

God bless you!