Broken For Building

During a storm earlier this summer, a tree fell in our backyard. Thankfully, it missed the surrounding houses and our own. But nonetheless, there was a tree in our yard that needed to be cleaned up. My husband, being the DIY guy he is, declared that he would cut the tree up and dispose of it. He saw the task as something feasible – something that could be done with a bit of effort and the right tools. I looked at the tree and saw a task that was too big, a task that would require more than what I felt we had, a task that was too much to handle.  We were both looking at the same tree, but we focused on different things. 

Sometimes, we see our situation the way I saw the tree. We look around and grow discouraged, disappointed, overwhelmed and/or frustrated. The daily grind has its way of sprawling itself out and showing you all of its realities. Life shows you all the ways that things won’t possibly work. It reminds you that you have limited abilities. It writes all your failures and fears in plain view of others. And  then we begin to spend more time looking at the situation  rather than looking at the One who can change the situation. What are you focusing on? The problem will always be the problem. God can change the problem or change your perspective of the problem. It’s time to focus on Him instead; time to  put your  energies in Him.

In Psalm 25:1 & 15, David declares “In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only he will release my feet from the snare.“ 

Today, I make my own declaration – reminding myself to adjust my focus.

Lord, sometimes the magnitude of the situation causes me to take my eyes off You. Help me to stay focused on your promises concerning me.