Realigning Our Focus

There comes a time when we are done. Done with crying. Done with anger. Done with bitterness. We are done. Flat out—DONE.

Yes, the unthinkable happened. It was understandable to grieve. To cry. To weep and wail. Often, we were following our convictions and making the right choices. However, the situation did not fall in our favor. 

Being a follower of Jesus doesn’t guarantee an easy road. 

We know this. 

We teach and speak about it. 

But even as speakers and leaders, sometimes we are faced with the fact that we know God’s truth in our head, but we are struggling to believe it with our heart. 

This can lead to a condition I like to call “sit, soak, and sour” moments. It leads to stinkin’ thinkin’ and before we know it, we are sinkin’ to the depths of despair. 

Let’s dive deeper. Here are the facts we face:

• Life is short. 

• We cannot afford to waste our days. 

• Spinning our wheels and waking up every day to a new day, but never in a new way must end. 

When we continue to wallow in the grief of what we lost, we lose valuable time. We don’t know how many days we have left, so we need to use our time wisely. 

Remember:

Time flies and it does not return. 

Years pass and we never get them back. 

We cannot wait our entire lives for something that might never happen. 

But—we can prevail over setbacks, disbelief and distress. 

I don’t know what you’re going through today, but I do know this: God has an “after this” situation planned for us. It might not be what we expected, but it can be more than we ever imagined.

How can we readjust our vision?

• Notice the beauty of a sunrise.
• Listen for the sound of laughter and the chirping of birds.
• Inhale the fragrance of a flower. 
• Observe the glory of a sunset.
• Linger over one of these verses.

“Teach us to number our days, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”  Psalm 90:12 NiV

“Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity…”. Ephesians 5:15-16 NIV

• Maintain your sense of humor.

Life is not all cinnamon rolls and sunshine, but eating an occasional cinnamon roll might make life taste sweeter. 

• Plan a vacation, a lunch with friends, or a trip to the coffee shop.

Don’t just seize those moments—squeeze those moments. Battered and wounded troops—let’s roll. Forward March!

Question:  When did you have to swallow sorrow and stand on the solid rock of Truth, knowing God would get you through a tough situation?  I look forward to reading your comments.