Focus On God

2 Corinthians 4:8-9,13 – We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. But we continue to preach because we have the same kind of faith the psalmist had when he said, "I believed in God, and so I spoke." (NLT)

As there were for the apostle Paul, there are still so many pressing and perplexing troubles. We see our personal problems, family problems, church problems, community problems, regional problems, national problems, world problems. How can we handle it all? We can't. Our hearts, minds, and spirits will bend under the weight; we will collapse and break. What is the answer?

We put blinders on a horse so that it won't be distracted by what's going on around it; it will stay focused on what is in front of it. Our faith in God is like spiritual blinders. God must be our focus; He will carry the load for us. It's not that we become unaware of everything that is going on around us. Instead, our trust that God is caring for us changes our attitude to the troubles so that they are not so distracting. He will instruct us on how to handle all of the various problems, and they may even become opportunities to minister in His name. Apart from Him, we can't accomplish anything. Apart from Him, we will crumble under the pressure.

2 Corinthians 4:18 – So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever. (NLT)

Isaiah 26:3-4 – You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on You! Trust in the Lord always, for the Lord God is the eternal Rock. (NLT)

Prayer: "Then I pray to You, O Lord. I say, 'You are my place of refuge. You are all I really want in life.'" (Psalm 142:5 NLT). May our focus always be on You. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen.

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