Do you remember those periods of time when nothing goes right? You walk in one direction and the sky of all things possible produces storm clouds that pour torrents of dashed dreams on your parade. You make a turn and fall into a ravine of calamity. You climb up the side of, keep on trying, only to have the cliff edge crumble as you dig your fingers into the ledge of last hope. Ever taken that trip? It’s literally — one thing after another — time and time again. It’s emotionally debilitating and spiritually exhausting.
What can we do when — one thing after another — follows us wherever we go? What did Moses do when God told him to lead the Hebrew nation out of bondage? He was doing exactly as instructed, when all of a sudden, he looks back to sees the army of Pharaoh getting close. That must have been a scary moment; but wait, what happened? God parted the waters so all the Hebrews could escape. Oh, what joy, but then? Moses had to listen to one complaint after another from the people he was leading to safety. In the wilderness Moses faced one calamity after another. What did Moses do? He stayed focused. He just kept moving forward with his heart bent toward God.
In the New Testament we have stories of Paul. He listened to God, made the decision to follow him, and what happened? He was falsely arrested, imprisoned, and beaten, but God gave him the strength needed and he pressed on. What happened next? He was shipwrecked, bitten by a poisonous snake, and finally ended up under house arrest. He endured — one thing after another. What did Paul do? He stayed focused. He just kept moving forward with his heart bent toward God.
You and I have our own stories of — one thing after another. It’s not fun. We don’t want it. What can we do? Stay focused. Just keep moving forward with our hearts bent towards God. What good will that do? The promise from God is as follows in Isaiah 26:3: “He will keep your mind in perfect peace, all who trust in Him, all who keep their thoughts fixed on Him.” Stay focused. You will get through. You will not drown in sorrow. You will not stay fallen in the pit of depression. The Light of the Lord always shines in the darkness. Stay focused.
