Adjust your focus

With only eight weeks to go till Christmas, we look back on another year of disruption where many have been challenged beyond what they can bear and as much as many try to hide their angst, the brokenness in society becomes more visible. Everyday, we wake up with this surreal feeling and wonder if things will ever change, will we ever be able to see our loved ones in other contexts of the world and what will life look like on the other side of this pandemic and these lockdowns.

All of this distracts from what should be a time of excitement and expectancy as we look forward to the Christmas season when we celebrate and reflect on the HOPE of our Salvation, Jesus Christ, born in a manger. Despite how strong our faith is, I believe that the current realities of the pandemic, compounded by the loss of peoples’ livelihoods, loved ones, and dealing with the usual day to day things can become too much for even those strong in their faith. In all of this, God is with is, whether we can see, feel or experience it or not, HE is the same, yesterday, today and forever and will never go back on His word and the promise made in Deuteronomy 31 where Moses encouraged the people with these words: 6 So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”(NLT). He goes on in verse 8 and repeats the same promise but this time to Joshua as an individual.

We see that the promise was made both to the collective and the individual, so we can take heart that our God is walking with us, but also walking before us. We need to adjust our focus from the pain and realities around us TO the hope we have in Him, working in partnership with Him to address the brokenness, lostness and pain we see around us. Proverbs 18:10 encourages us in saying: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous man runs into it and is safe.” That’s right, we are the righteousness of God through the work of Jesus Christ. So even if you feel low in faith, overwhelmed by the current situation, or overcome by difficulty, apply yourself to Isaiah 55:6 to “Seek the LORD while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near.”

Peace be with you.