A Recipe For Disaster
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
Insight
I remember my first day of 6th grade at Trask Middle School here in Wilmington, NC. I was late for my first class, I had no idea what I was doing or where I was going, and my biggest fear was being embarrassed in front of all my friends because I didn’t know how to use the combination lock on my locker. This is real life for a 6th grader. Your reputation is on the line. You HAVE to make a good first impression or you risk not being cool for the rest of your middle school years.
Think about how our lives have progressed as adults. We think things like this to ourselves:
“I have to get into a certain college or I won’t ever get the job I want.”
“I have to look a certain way and wear a certain brand of clothes to be accepted by the cool families in my neighborhood.”
“My life will never amount to anything until I get married and have kids.”
“God can’t use me because I’ve been divorced.”
“I’ve made too many bad decisions and there’s no way my life will ever amount to anything.”
Did you catch the underlying theme that resides in these statements? Us. They are all about us.
It’s very easy for us to become self-centered and move the focus from Jesus Christ onto ourselves. This is a recipe for disaster. When we take our focus away from Jesus, we feel that we are not good enough or strong enough to make a difference in this world.
If you want to be on the fast track to feeling lonely, focus on yourself more than Jesus.We are created as human beings to be dependent on each other. Sometimes we try to navigate this mad world by ourselves and make decisions on what we think is best. Instead of relying on our limited perspective, we have to filter all of our decisions through the lens of Jesus if we want to live in freedom.
God says, “Do not fear because I am with you and do not be dismayed for I am your God.” When we feel like our world is falling apart, we can experience peace by standing firmly on this promise. God is with us and God is for us! The grace of God redeems ALL things including our bad decisions and our mistakes.
So when you feel like giving up and throwing the towel in, remind yourself that our God has the power to help you get through the tough seasons in life. If you’re feeling lonely, know that God is with you and He loves you so much.
With Jesus at the center, we never have to feel lonely again.
Reflection
What are you placing your focus on more than Jesus?
Who can you talk to about your personal struggles?
In what ways do you trust yourself more than Jesus?
Prayer
Dear Father, please help me to focus more on You. Provide me with a peace that passes all understanding. Give me courage to talk to someone about my personal struggles. Help me to make You the center of my life instead of myself. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
Port City writer Davey Hatcher wrote today’s devotional.
