Where is our focus?

Is our focus on God or illness?

Just the other day I was beginning to feel a migraine coming on and all I thought was that I should take my pills to ward it off. But it was in that moment that God reminded me that He was here. He should be where I turn to first.

I found that I was focusing on what was being taken away, my afternoon stolen from me. I was thinking of the things that I had planned and what I wanted to get done. It was focusing on the enemies works rather than focusing on God’s provision on His power to redeem.

Abundant life despite

In John 10:10, Jesus himself tells us, ‘The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.’ This statement is in the midst of a shepherd metaphor, where He says that we shall find pasture with him. He is the good shepherd who lays down his life for us.

And the one that most struck me was ‘I am the gate’ in verse 9. And I had to ask myself, where am I standing? Am I standing at the gate, longing for the release that is inside, or am I already inside within the pasture, by the still waters, with oil anointing my head? Am I resting in Him or am I leaning on my own and man’s powers?

Misplaced focus

My focus was misplaced, and I was missing so much that is available to me, even in my sickness. Even in my pain. Even when I do not sense an abundant life, I need only lay claim to it. I can have life ‘beyond what is expected’, for that is what abundant means. I can have that list of things that I expect to do in the afternoon, a migraine AND abundant life.

When my focus is on Him, on being still and knowing He is God, I live beyond my expectations. When I am still, resting in Him, even for a moment, focusing on Him puts everything aright. The list takes on a new priority, the migraine subsides because these are not my focus, He is. Considering focus, where my gaze rests, I am reminded of the post with a snake on it in the Old Testament.

He is faithful

In Numbers 21, in the midst of complaining and such, we find the oddest two verses, 8-9, ‘The Lord said to Moses, “Make a snake and put it up on a pole; anyone who is bitten can look at it and live.” So Moses made a bronze snake and put it up on a pole. Then when anyone was bitten by a snake and looked at the bronze snake, they lived.’ I didn’t understand for a long time why the Israelites should look at a snake on a pole to be saved. It seemed idolatry in some way, to me. Instead, it was only an arrow, pointing to God. I think it was to be a reminder of God’s faithfulness in healing them, protecting them, looking out for them in every way. Even as faithless as they were, always wanting to go back to slavery, hard labor, misery, and suffering, He was faithful to establish a good leader, provide for their daily needs, heal them, etc. Through Moses, manna and water and clothes that never wore out, and even a snake on a pole, He took care of them faithfully. And when they put their eye on the reminder of Him, a snake on a pole, they were saved. I need to remember that when I see the traditional symbol for medicine, a snake on a pole, it is God who saves, perhaps using man’s hands or having imparted knowledge to man. Nonetheless, it is God who saves.

So, I’ve got to remember that He is faithful, I’ve got to keep my eye on Him for my needs, including my pain, my discomfort, my list of things to be done. There is no room for ‘If God will only take this away, then I could…’ Then what I want is more than what He wants for me. He only wants the best for me. He will care for my needs, every single one. He will redeem whatever needs to be in my life, despite illness He provides life that is beyond expectations.