Tough Times and Our Focus

Hello everyone….and we pray  you are well….What or who do you focus on when the tough times come?  Sometimes, many of us are prone to dwelling on our problems day after day.  We get caught in a vicious cycle of hopelessness, while ruminating about past events.  Research has shown that this continuous dwelling on the negative can make us prone to depression and a host of other ailments.

Sometimes changing our thoughts from the negative to the positive can be an incredible challenge, as this ritual of “negativity” has become entrenched in our minds.  So is there a way to break this cycle? I believe there is, and it starts with God.

I was reading through the book of Jeremiah again, and that same old verse keeps coming back at me. It’s Jeremiah 29:11   “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”  When you truly invision yourself as a child and creation of almighty God, that gives us a renewed strength. Knowing I am God’s creation gives me a sense of spiritual power that can help me fight my battles, while at the same time leaning on him.

The bible (Psalms and Proverbs) gives wonderful instruction on how to cope and deal with life, and there is not enough room here for me to even begin.  Pick up an inexpensive bible and start reading….it could be the most important book you have ever read.

Here’s a great devotional from intouch.org   stay well…..

Paul did not picture himself as a victim. Despite tremendous physical discomfort and emotional turmoil, he believed he was under God’s sovereign hand. So instead of growing resentful and walking away from the faith, the apostle turned to the Lord and continued to mature spiritually.

We can learn much from Paul—He was determined to focus on God’s sovereignty rather than his own will. It’s easy to be bitter over the mayhem that another person has caused in our lives. However, the minute we start thinking that our enemies are in control, we’re defeated. The Bible says that God “has established His throne in the heavens, and His sovereignty rules over all” (Ps. 103:19). He is in absolute control. We may not understand His reasons for permitting hardship or pain in our lives, but His plan is always for our good and His glory (Jer. 29:11).

Moreover, believers can learn from Paul’s commitment to focus on positive results rather than on personal agony. Pain, whether in the body or the heart, often absorbs all of a person’s attention. But there is no victory to be had in dwelling on our hurts. God has a plan for that anguish, and Paul is a good example. He rejoiced when the gospel spread to the Praetorian Guard—his jailers.

Difficult circumstances are a crossroads in the believer’s life. If we take the path of blaming God for our strife, we’ll be dealing with resentment and negativity. But if we focus on our heavenly Father’s love and provision, we will find trust and hope as we seek to go His way.

 

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