Stay Focused

      Last year was quite a turbulent one for quite a number of people. I remember someone telling me, they couldn’t just wait for the year to end; with the hope that the end of year will bring about the end of the many problems she was facing at the time. Running into her a couple of days ago, she remarked she hoped the New Year will be better even though she is still battling the same problems. I told her, emphatically and assuredly that it will be a much better year. Better, for as many that will run in and remain under the Shadow of the Almighty: “The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are protected” (Proverbs 18:10). King David understood what this meant. To run in and remain means we must be loyal, and remain so, to the Lord. When we are loyal to the Lord, He in turn is loyal to us: “He is a tower of salvation to His king; He shows loyalty to His anointed, to David and his descendants forever” (2Samuel 22:51). Beloved, perhaps you have been serving and waiting on the Lord for quite awhile now, don’t despair Help is by you. Everything will work out for you according to His will! This is His promise and is what He does!

      The Psalmist, by the Holy Spirit declared: “I waited patiently for the Lord and He turned to me and heard my cry for help” (Psalm 40:1). Whatever you have been waiting on the Lord for, remain at His feet because He has heard you and has turned to help you. You may be wondering why the wait and why so long. There is nothing the Lord does or allows without a plan or a purpose. What you are going through fits into the plan and purpose of God for your life. Though it is very painful, but the end result will bring for you an incomparable amount of glory that causes you not to remember the pain you endured before the change came. “Therefore we do not give up; even though our outer person is being destroyed, our inner person is being renewed day by day. For our momentary light affliction is producing for us an absolutely incomparable eternal weight of glory” (2Corinthians 4:16-17). God sees what you are going through as momentary and light. Meaning it will end just as it started and it will not consume you; only if you remain under and with Him. 

       Someone may say to us, since we have been following Jesus Christ, the pains seem to be never ending. Beloved, stand your ground in the assurance that He has not only heard you, but has turned to answer you. God will not bring you to the point of birth only to stop the baby from coming forth! Your time to burst forth has come! Believe it and Embrace it! When you look back to this point in time, after your situation had changed, it would be like you were dreaming. No wonder the Psalmist continued: “He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure” (Psalm 40:2). Your time of waiting is like being buried in muddy clay, but your set time has come! Stand your ground, Beloved, in your unwavering faith! “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:3). The Lord has put a new song in your mouth! So many will hear it and will run to the Master. 

       Beloved you are in great company: Sarah, Joseph, Hannah, David, Daniel, Job, Paul, Silas, Esther, Lydia, Mordecai and so many others! Therefore, do not lose focus by taking your eye off the prize! And the Prize is JESUS CHRIST! Keep a focused and single eye upon Him, and all that He had spoken concerning you will come to pass: “So we do not focus on what is seen, but on what is unseen; for what is seen is temporary, but what is seen is eternal” (2Corinthians 4:18). He’s got you! Take your eyes off the toothless and powerless howling of the wind because He’s got you! May God keep and bless you, in Jesus Christ name, Amen!