Lately, I feel like I’ve been so distracted. It’s always something, my son, my finances, issues with food stamps, the car… So much keeps popping up, it’s like I get one problem resolved and something else crops up. Something is always distracting me from what I have wanted to accomplish this year and moving forward.
So I started thinking about that and the WHY. Why is there always something distracting me, taking my eyes off Jesus briefly, making me lose my focus and getting me so off track? What is causing all these obstacles to be thrown at me like this, one after another, after another. It’s exhausting. It’s discouraging. Its slowing me down. I realize that my sufferings in this lifetime are nothing compared to what Jesus suffered during his last few weeks as a human. That doesn’t mean they don’t matter to Him, in fact, it’s because He suffered that He understands my pain, my agony and strife. He even understands what it means to be tempted! Satan came right at Him, trying to tempt Him away from His intended purpose. It didn’t work so well for Satan that time, thankfully!
Paul mentions it too, in 1 Corinthians 10:13, when he says “No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to man.” In other words, we ALL struggle with temptation!! Not one of us is exempt from it, including Christ. Satan tries to take advantage of us when we are struggling, he likes to tempt us with what seems to be an easier option, or something that will make us feel better for a little while. He loves to distract us from what God intends for us to be doing. I don’t make light of anyone’s suffering here, our journeys are HARD while on this earth. We MUST remain focused on the BIGGER picture, and the life to come, with God! He gives us the strength to endure while here in our human bodies, the strength to resist temptation.
So, let’s talk about temptation for a minute. I’m talking about the kind that comes with Widows Fire. I’m sure many of you have experienced this, and I know it’s not usually talked about, especially in Christian circles, right? But it’s something that actually happens to us, that is out of our control to prevent. So, what do we do about it? It’s a very physical urge, that real craving for the intimacy we used to share with our spouses. It’s absolutely NORMAL to experience it, so please know, there is absolutely no judgement here, I’ve been thru it myself. This one has been a real struggle for me. Thankfully, Paul tells us what to do in the rest of the verse in 1 Cor, “But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.” (NIV) Some versions say “endure”, and I think that one feels more fitting here, because it is something we have to endure. But we will be provided a way out, if we only ask God what is acceptable to Him in that situation. This will be different for each of us, because each of our relationships with God is different, and it depends on where we are in our journey. As long as we continue to submit to His guidance and His will for our lives, we won’t make a bad choice here. God is faithful!! He will not abandon us in our moments of weakness! He understands it. Talk to Him about it!
This is one of those things that has taken my eyes off Jesus from time to time. But everything that distracts me, every situation is just temporary! They will be resolved, some sooner than others, but they will go away. The purpose that God has for me, that won’t go away, and that won’t happen until I learn to ignore the distractions and keep pushing forward to accomplish what He intends for me to do in this lifetime. I must strive to stay on task, as I tell my son all the time. With his ADHD, this can be quite a challenge from time to time, and we are working on eliminating distractions for him as well! I’m guessing you can tell where his ADHD came from… too bad I grew up in the 80’s when it was virtually undiscovered! So much has changed in 40 years. With widows brain and perimenopause on top of it, it’s a wonder I can manage to get anything done effectively!
I cannot let Satan distract me further, keeping me so busy handling everything else that I don’t keep taking the appropriate steps forward, as God guides. It just means being more dilagent about getting back on task quickly after a distraction. It’s about not allowing wordly temptations to get my focus off Jesus. It’s about keeping my eyes on Him. So I leave you with the song “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” Most of us know this one, if we grew up in church… one of my favorite versions is sung by Lauren Daigle. But go listen to your favorite one, and listen to it every time you feel distracted by something that’s taking your focus off God. It will help to guide you right back to Him, every time!
“Turn your eyes upon Jesus. Look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.”
Hugs my sisters!!
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