Blurry Vision

By Casey Cassady

Can I be honest with you? Lately, my life has had its frustrations.  I have been feeling as though I would be happier if some things in my life were different. When I allow it to, that feeling activates a flood of thoughts regarding some regrets I have, and how I am afraid of so many “what ifs” of the future. It causes me to think about the negative and to sometimes dwell in the pity of my anger and stress.

Because of this, I recently woke up one morning feeling tired – but not tired from lack of sleep. I realized that I am tired of the lies I have fallen victim to; tired of procrastinating prayer; tired of feeling as though I am weak in my circumstances; and tired of some days feeling unhappy.

As I later sat at my work desk, I found me telling myself, “I am going to choose to be happy today.” Even that small, whispered affirmation made a huge difference, and I suddenly began to feel peace. I was reminded that my circumstances should not determine my mood, but that I can determine my mood.  I can choose to be happy. But to do so, I must choose to REFOCUS.

I hope that as you read this, you feel empowered to be intentional with what you focus on. As Joyce Meyer emphasizes in her book, “The Battlefield of the Mind” (as well as many of her sermons), we must recognize that we all have control over our own thoughts. It may be easier said than done at times, but we must find ways to control our thoughts. We can do this by proactively being in prayer, reading our Word, and shifting our mindset toward a more positive perspective. When we are able to do this, these things will follow:

1. We can see things for not what they are now, but for what God can make them to be.
2. We can be thankful that God will make a way where there seems to be no way.
3. We can be reminded that God sends an Army of Angels to surround us.
4. We can better focus on our blessings.
5. We can feel hopeful for divine outcomes
6. We can wholeheartedly sit and dwell in the Lord’s presence.
7. We can be confident knowing that God can use our circumstances of being in our lowest levels of “lost” and bring us into our highest levels of “found”.

God truly has a purpose for everything we go through; whether that is for salvation, to align us or others on the path He has intended, to allow us to learn and develop in certain areas, or to even answer prayers during chaos.

Let us look at this from a narrative perspective. Every Biblical narrative demonstrates God fulfilling His plans and purpose despite our initial self-doubt, shame, or rebellion. Jonah ran from his calling because he held anger at who God sent him to (the people of Nineveh). But once he repented, God still used him.  When Hosea’s wife Gomer left to live a promiscuous life, God still knew who she could be and their marriage was not over. Even while feeling anger, Hosea chooses obedience and went to his wife where their marriage found its redemption. When the Prodigal’s son chose to run away and spend his entire inheritance, he too, chose to repent. He went back to his father at his lowest, and was not only accepted, but celebrated! The parable ends without ever mentioning what happened to him after that. However, I would like to hope that because of his repentance and his father’s unconditional love for him, he went on to do great things!

Let me ask you a question. Do you have blurry vision? If you find yourself thinking, feeling, or doing things that keep you at a low…REFOCUS. If you find yourself constantly dwelling on your past or fearing the future…REFOCUS. If you find yourself hurting because you are conflicting with someone… REFOCUS.  Our God has seen it all, beloved! He is available to give you hope, to help you through a change of heart, to heal you, to love you, to forgive you, and He is where you will always be able to find your redemption.

Matthew 6:33 NLT says, ^“Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and he will give you everything you need.” Focus NOT on what you are worried about, NOT on what gives you anxiety, NOT on who has hurt you, and NOT on your recent, disappointing occurrence. Focus on God and His Kingdom! It is only there that you will find God’s peace, love, and everything He has planned for YOU.

REFOCUS.

**If you wish to connect with Casey, the author of this post, you can contact her here: https://linktr.ee/caseycassady