In Part 7, we explored HOW our response to tough times (and
even our victories) illustrates our level of trust in God.
Throughout Scripture, God tells us that trials are to our
benefit…and yet so often we try to avoid them, or rush through them, with
little thought of how they can benefit us.
If in the midst of a
trial our only questions are “why” or
“how long will it last” we will miss
the lessons.
Instead, we must train ourselves to find the value in the
storm, the lessons to be learned.
We should be asking, “God, what do you want me to learn?”
If our focus in solely on the pain we are in, and how to
get out of it, we will miss God. We will miss the JOY He brings and the HOPE we
have been promised.
Have you ever the phrase, FOCUS DETERMINES
REALITY?
If you are focused only on the circumstance, or the pain
you are experiencing, your reality is limited to that. You will miss God. You will
miss the blessings. You will miss the lesson.
If your
focus is on YOU and YOUR abilities, you will miss God in action.
Shifting our focus from self, and our circumstances, is not
easy.
But when our focus is on “SELF”, we are unable to see God.
We are unable to TRUST God. And our HOPE is limited to what SELF can do.
Instead of all that God can do.
When our focus is off God, we start to doubt Him.
Is God really good?
Does God really love
me?
Is there a God? If so,
why is He allowing this?
When my dad died I began to doubt God. Not because of his
death, but because of the suffering he endured before dying. I began asking if God
is truly loving. These doubts led to great anger with God.
In the end, they also brought a closer relationship.
You see, God is big enough to handle our doubts, fears,
anger and questions.
The KEY is to bring them TO God.
God is a
great teacher.
Bring Him your questions.
Bring Him your doubts.
Bring Him your frustrations.
GO TOWARD GOD.
Don’t let trials drive a wedge in your relationship with
Him.
You see, when I brought my concerns TO God, He changed my
focus.
I started out focused on me and my feelings. But in coming
TO God with this, He changed my focus.
That shift in focus, changed my
entire perception of the trial.
Before I knew it, my doubts were gone.
My anger had melted.
My relationship with Him was stronger…as was my faith.
I grew in that trial.
You can grow too if you stop relying on self to get you
through. If you stop focusing exclusively on the circumstances. If you turn
TOWARD God.
A slight shift in focus can go a long
way in helping you through the storm.
Suddenly enduring doesn’t seem so bad. Hope springs new.
And peace that transcends understanding takes root.
I pray you’re starting to realize the challenges you face in
life are not meant to defeat you, God allows them FOR your good (and so you can
help others).
Refection
Questions:
1.
In the middle of a trial, what are you focused
on? Is that drawing you closer to God or pushing you farther from Him?
2.
How can shifting your Focus change your Reality?
3.
Next time you’re in a trial ask yourself: What
does God have to say about this storm? What is He trying to teach me?
