Ever been in the car with a driver who looks everywhere except the road? It’s horrific. If they’re not gazing into the backseat or checking their phone, they’re staring you directly in the eyeballs as if your pupils are going to telepathically operate the vehicle for them.
Focus can be life-saving, and I’d say that spiritually, it’s easy to be like a distracted driver. Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our faith. Therefore, He alone should be the focal point—desiring to be at His feet, learning from His life, and being conformed to His image as we discover our unique and individual purposes.
It’s so simple! Yet, many distractions arise on the journey to purpose. They’re usually our daily worries that God has already promised to take care of for us.
Challenging My Worries
For me, it has looked like school, relationships, and my own feelings of inadequacy and comparison. Distraction will keep you from the destination. For that reason, I find it necessary to challenge the truth of every worry or setback and make them captive to Jesus Christ.
On our way to the Kingdom, we get distracted by what is essentially a tiny glimmer on the side of the road. It’s not worth crashing over. I want to be vigilant about growing in my knowledge of God and His word.
It simply cannot happen amidst too much noise. For many of us, God has already revealed our destinies, purposes, and callings, as well as so much more. Nothing can steal it!
Some habits just have to be unlearned. I picked up a few unhelpful ones in my formative years. As a teen, my self-esteem was non-existent and I struggled badly with a craving for external validation. Sometimes that pattern rears its ugly head in the form of people-pleasing, obsessing, and discrediting my own abilities.
In Christ, I have found an opportunity to learn from my own thorns and unlearn the behaviors and attitudes that breed confusion, jealousy, frustration, and inadequacy.
Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. — Hebrews 12:2.
I know that my value is completely found in the Lord and my life is hidden with Christ. Each day has its own challenges, but I have gone back to square one when it comes to keeping my eyes on the road—the path to God’s perfect will for me.
I am thankful to my Lord Jesus, whose impeccable focus has covered mine. He pressed through the pain and the shame of the cross. He didn’t entertain the mockers and scoffers. He was committed to the will of the Father who sent Him, and completing His assignment so that we could be free. People’s opinions and attitudes didn’t matter to Jesus. The truth is that His obedience and focus saved me. All of us. I just have to keep my eyes on the road.
