No Matter the Struggle

In Matthew 14:29-31, we read where Jesus walked on the water, and Peter asked to join him.  But then Peter lost his focus on Jesus, and instead, he focused on the storm around them, and he began to sink.

How many times do we lose our focus on Jesus?  Life has many struggles that we must face, but the key to getting through them is to keep our eyes on Jesus.

I don't know about you, but when I face a situation that's scary or feels over-whelming, I tend to worry.  Well when we worry, we lose our focus on Jesus.  That's not what He wants.  He wants us to trust Him.  When we become afraid or we start to worry, we have to change our focus back to Jesus.  Focusing on the "storm" in your life is only going to make it seem worse.

You may ask, but how do I focus on Jesus?  I believe the best ways to focus on Him is to pray, spend time with Him, read His word, praise Him, and give Him thanks.  Just talk to Jesus like He's your very best friend because He is, you know.

So the next time that "storm" arises in your life, the next time you start to worry, just remember..."No matter the struggle, keep your eyes on Jesus".

"Let us fix our eyes on Jesus..."
Hebrews 12:2

One True Friend

"My Friend"
Helen Thomas Robson

"What a friend we have in Jesus,
All our sins and griefs to bear!
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!
Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!"

This has got to be one of the sweetest songs I've ever heard.  Just the first line, "What a friend we have in Jesus," says it all.  You know we have friends here on this earth; some are lasting, some are fleeting, but none measure up to the friend we have in Jesus!

A friend is defined as "a person who you know well and who you like a lot" or as "a favored companion".  Who knows us better than Jesus?  He loves us despite everything we've done.

A friend is someone who you can talk to, confide in, and share your secrets with.  A true friend is one who stays with you through the good times and the bad.

Jesus is that one true friend!

"A friend loves at all times..."
Proverbs 17:17

Just Breathe

Through God's Eyes

Yesterday we had a nice little family reunion with my parents, brothers, and sisters, etc...  Sounds nice, right?  Well it ended up being so, but beforehand, I was a nervous wreck.  I'm sure that sounds really strange to you, and it is, but you see I suffer from anxiety.  So any little thing can make me anxious.

I can't tell you how miserable I was before this reunion.  I cried, I panicked, and I had myself all worked up.  I talked to God, and I talked to myself.  Why?  Why was I so afraid of being around my family?  They are a wonderful family.  I mean these are people I love and grew up with, so why am I so anxious when it comes time to be around them.

Then, as I was reading my devotion yesterday, I read this:  "Beware of seeing yourself through other people's eyes".  Was that it?  Was I so afraid of how they view me?  None of them have ever given me any reason to feel that way, and I realized it's me.  I see myself this way, and I think I'm projecting this onto my family - onto everyone around me.  Because I suffer from social anxiety, I automatically assume that others are judging me.  I feel inferior; I'm afraid of doing or saying something that will make me feel stupid or embarass me.  This is all me; I'm learning that.

We can't discern how others feel about us, and God doesn't want us to feel this way.  He doesn't want us to try and please others; He only wants us to please Him.  When we try to please others, it takes away from our desire to please God.  God wants us to see ourselves through His eyes...as one who is deeply and eternally loved.

"When a man's ways please the Lord, He maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him."
Proverbs 16:7

Just Breathe

God Has A Solution

I don't know about you, but most days I struggle with life's situations or circumstances.  I definitely don't handle them as well as I should, and I usually don't understand them.  This is when it is so important for us to trust God. ("Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." Proverbs 3:5)

So many times I wonder why this is happening or what is going on in my life.  The problem here is that I'm human; I don't think like God.  His ways are higher than mine.  He can see beyond this day, beyond this moment.  He sees the big picture.  We have to trust that God knows what He's doing.  He is doing what's best
for us.  We may not see it right now, but one day we will.  We'll look back at a moment in our life and realize that God was at work the whole time.

Just try to remember a time that you didn't understand what was happening in your life, and now look at that situation and how God worked it out.  "Go to sleep...God already has a solution."

"Jesus replied, “You do not realize now what I am doing, but later you will understand.'"
John 13:7

Just Breathe