Losing Focus and Finding it Again

Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-2 NASB emphasis mine

I do not have ADHD, but I do have a habit of losing focus. The messy kitchen distracts me from the dirty laundry, that distracts me from the clean laundry needing folded, that distracts me from the dusty furniture, etc. etc. etc.

And it isn’t only daily things that distract me. My goal in my life is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

But I have to pay bills, children’s arguments to referee, math to grade, and Hebrew to learn.

I also have sick friends, family members nearing the end of their physical lives, politics in my husband’s workplace, and God-sized dreams that feel impossible. Somehow in the middle of it all I lose focus.

While I fix my eyes firmly on what I can do, how I can help, I am overwhelmed. I know it isn’t possible. I can’t.

But perhaps that is the point.

I can’t.

I can’t wave a wand and suddenly have the children for which I long.

I can’t say the exact right words and force people to work together well or agree on the best way to proceed.

I can’t by sheer will-power heal my sick family.

Bills have to be paid, children must be taught how to handle conflict well, and I still have to learn the qal imperfect yiqtol strong verb table in Hebrew.

Oh, but God tells me not to fix my eyes on myself, nor my circumstances, but to firmly fix them on Jesus.

Jesus who instead of seeing the circumstance of a gruesome death on the cross saw joy for what that event would accomplish.

Jesus who didn’t worry about the shame of dying on the cross, but saw the victory to come when He would sit at God’s right hand.

Jesus who put up with sinful man beating him, spitting on him, cursing him to accomplish my redemption and so that I would not grow weary and lose heart.

With my eyes fixed firmly on Jesus my “I cannot’s” turn into “He is able.”

With Jesus my impossibilities turn into possibilities.

In Jesus the pain of unfulfilled dreams turns into an opportunity to trust that His ways are better than mine.

When I fully trust Jesus my daily life, my darkest pain, my worst sin, my biggest problems become opportunities to enjoy God and bring Him glory…in every minute of every day.

I just have to focus on Him.

What helps you keep focused on Jesus?