Focus
4-6-16
Photography is all about focus. The most beautiful sunset in the world will be lost in a camera lens that isn’t able to focus. A wedding album filled with pictures that are blurry and out of focus will not make for a happy bride. A family picture where half of the family members’ heads are cut off is never fun. Been there, done that!
What the camera lens is focused on in a picture makes all the difference in the world. Click to tweet
They often say that life imitates art, and I believe that is especially true when it comes to focus. Just like a great picture is all about focus, our life is all about focus. Are we focused on problems…or blessings? Obstacles…or opportunities? Mistakes…or chances to learn?
Are our blessings sharp and clear…or out of focus?
I have to admit to all of you reading this, when I woke up today my world was focused on the wrong things. My blessings were blurry. I have a situation in my life that I’ve been praying about for a while, and there’s been no resolution yet. I keep praying and praying about it, trusting God will answer, but nothing. At times I wonder if God is simply ignoring me. Have you ever felt that way?
The problem is that my problem became my entire focus. My lens wasn’t seeing anything else but that. The blessings right in front of me were fuzzy. I couldn’t make them out. Simple things like sunshine, air to breathe, a roof over my head were out of focus because my problem was in the way. All the incredible doors God has been opening in my ministry were hazy because of where I was holding my gaze.
Then I read this verse from 2 Corinthians 4:18 (NLT):
So we don’t look at the troubles we can see 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. 2 Cor. 4:18 (NLT)
I realized I needed to change my lens, get a new filter, and redirect my focus.
I know it’s easy for us to “fix our gaze” on the wrong things. It takes incredible effort to adjust our vision away from our troubles and point our eyes to the blessings God has given each of us. But, my friend, it is so worth it, because I believe:
If we focus on our wins, we will win. If we focus on our losses, we will lose. Click to tweet
I don’t believe that we should bury our problems deep inside us and not deal with the real issues going on, but sometimes we have to adjust our gaze. Are we seeing what’s in front of us with sharpness and clarity, or do we need to clean off our lens? Are we seeing the miraculous ways God IS working in our lives, or are the blessings blurry? Are we constantly complaining, or are we trying to find the ways God might be trying to grow our faith in hard situations?
The issue in my life that I want “fixed” needs to be moved from my main focus to its true focus…it’s just another bump in the road on the journey. I can make the choice to be happy and grateful while God moves in this situation, or not. I also need to be open to the fact that He may not change the situation but simply change my heart about the situation, change my focus.
So I ask you, my friend, where is your focus? Is it time to turn your camera lens away from your problems and turn it to your blessings? Does your lens need a little cleaning?
Life truly does imitate art, and what our camera lens is focused on makes all the difference in the world.
Hugs and love,
~Jill