A Matter of Focus
A Matter of Focus
Some of the best counsel I’ve received in a long time came in a recent letter from a man I’ve never met.
“Many believers gaze at their problems and glance at the Lord,” wrote Ted Smith. “But how much better to gaze at the Lord—and only glance at your problems.”
Uncommon good advice, Mr. Smith. Too many of us rivet our eyes on our predicaments. We start measuring the mass of our responsibilities, charting the depth of our dilemmas, adding up the weight of our worries. In so doing, we only give our Lord an occasional worried glance—just to make sure He’s still in the vicinity.
It’s all a matter of focus, isn’t it? Our problems are too real and tangible. The dog tracks Alpo all over the kitchen floor. Your husband calls to say he’ll be late (again). The casserole turns to charcoal in your oven and a shouting match erupts between your teenagers upstairs. Little wonder you stand there with your dish towel in hand, droop-shouldered, dumbfounded as to what to do. You mutter an obligatory prayer to God as you tromp up the stairs to referee.
Sound familiar? You’ve been in plenty of situations like that. Your problems scream for undivided attention; and God barely gets noticed in all the scramble.
How we need to consider again the counsel from Hebrews:
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart (12:2-3).
That’s it, right there. Consider Jesus. He had one heavy-duty cross to bear, but He fixed His sight up ahead—on the joy set before Him. And we, as the command makes clear, are to do much the same. Let us fix our eyes on the Author and Perfecter of our faith. That’s the focus.
So what’s changed about the charred casserole, the dirty kitchen floor, and the argument upstairs? Nothing. But what can change? Your focus. Don’t lock your gaze onto your problems while you only glance at the Lord. Get it in focus. Gaze at the Lord—behold Him—and your problems won’t cause you to grow weary and lose heart.
Try it sometime. Like right now. Write out Hebrews 12:2-3 and tape it above your kitchen sink, to your computer terminal, or to the dashboard of your car. That way, it will always stay in focus.
And so will you.