FOCUS

For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

ROMANS 15:4

When we first set out on a trail, we’re often thinking about the goal ahead, the distance we have to go, or what we might see along the way. It’s exciting to leave the trailhead behind and begin to climb. We’re grateful for the people who built and maintain the trail. We may even wonder who else has hiked this path. But sometimes as we continue on, our focus narrows to the few steps in front of us. Maybe our feet start to hurt. All we see is the next small portion of the trail.

Life can be like that. We get focused on the task at hand and forget about the larger picture. Instead of turning to God, we think our time is better spent working on the problem ourselves. We fall into thinking that the issue we are dealing with will go on forever, and we grow discouraged.

God cares about the details of our daily lives. Psalm 46:1 tells us, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”

Whatever the problem is, His Word can help us get through it. Perhaps there’s a passage that speaks directly to our struggle. Maybe reading about how a biblical figure dealt with something similar will show us how to respond to our situation. (Or how not to!) Even if our specific circumstance is not addressed in Scripture, the Psalms can comfort us by giving voice to our fears and frustrations. We can pray those verses to the Lord too.

Dear Father God, help me to remember to turn to You with my problems. Thank You for caring about my struggles. Thank You for giving us Your Word. You are a loving Father!