Right focus

I've been traveling a lot lately and with everything going on the world, there is always a question of safety and risk. The news raises all sorts of concerns due to crime and the senseless disregard for human life. Add to that all the natural disasters we face. No wonder people are anxious and afraid to function.  And often when they do, they go overboard.  

There are those who live as if there is no tomorrow - living their truth believing they control their destiny and basking in doing it their way with no regard for impacts on others or God's plan for them. Then you have those who want to live in a bubble to avoid all the unknowns or unpleasantries of life. They are fearful of the world and just want to protect themselves from harm. Unfortunately, both of these groups  have the potential to be miserable and very self-focused. 

In both cases described, the person is taking on the responsibility of being right and making decisions separate from the Lord and depending on their own strength. So, they  either pull out all the stops or stop everything. These are extremes and neither is a healthy place to be. But what leads us to that place? A lack of understanding that we can't control much. We definitely can't control the outcome - we can influence it but not control it. We have to remember that God is in control of everything, but we have a role to play (2 Chr 2:17). 

If we keep our focus on Jesus, we will not be self-focused because we will be striving to love like He does (Mark 12:31). We will be looking for ways to uplift our fellow man. If we focus on Jesus, He will direct us where to go and how to get there (Psa 23:3). But we have to move. And as we move, our faith is made stronger and we are strenghtened (Jam 2:17). We are reminded of all that God has done and that He will never leave nor forsake His own. 

So, where will you focus?