With all of the tragedy overtaking the media, it can be easy for us to get lost in the sauce (the sad news) but how about we adjust our focus?
In the last sermon I heard at church before churches were closed, my pastor spoke about a story that most Christians are familiar with found in the gospels, Matthew 8:23-27, Mark 4:35-41 and Luke 8:22-25, the story of Jesus calming the wind and sea.
The gospels give us a synopsis of Jesus preaching the good news of God throughout villages and cities. One day, He and His disciples went into a boat. As they began to sail, Jesus fell asleep and a windstorm erupted. The disciples woke Jesus up, hoping He could save them, as they thought they were going to die.
In the book of Mark it states that Jesus said, “Peace be still” and the winds and waves obeyed Jesus. Then Jesus asked His disciples why they were afraid and told them that they lacked faith.
To be honest, I’m sure if we were in the situation that the disciples were in, we would have responded the same way. However, the way my pastor put it, we should ask ourselves “What are we focusing on?”. Imagine being in a boat with the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace and instead of focusing on this, you’re focusing on what’s around you. Jesus was in the boat with the disciples so they were safe but they didn’t realize this because they were too busy focusing on the storm outside of the boat.
Another familiar story regarding Jesus and water is the story of Peter attempting to walk on water after He realized that it was Jesus who he and the other disciples saw walking on water, found in Matthew 14:22-33. When Peter’s eyes were focused on Jesus, he began to walk on the sea but as soon as he changed his focus from Jesus to the wind and waves, he began to sink.
A wise friend once told me that the tiny things make a big difference. If we continuously watch all of the sad videos regarding what’s going on in the world today or dwell on a terrible thing that may have happened to us in the past, our anxieties will get the best of us and like Peter, we may begin to sink because our focus is not on Jesus. Our emotions will instead begin to control us and fear will take over our lives.
It is important for us to make time to unplug from all that’s going on around us. Turn off the news, take a break from social media and take your focus off of what’s happening around you and focus on Jesus who longs to spend time with you.
The hours that we may have spent on social media can be replaced with time spent worshipping God, reading a passage of scripture or listening to uplifting music.
Psalms 34:1 says, “I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth.”
The text does not say I will bless the Lord when something good happens or I will bless the Lord when I get what I’ve been praying for. It says I will bless the Lord at ALL TIMES, meaning during the good times and the bad times. In the New King James Version, the title of this chapter in Psalms is “The Happiness of Those Who Trust in God. Verse 4 says the Lord delivered me from all my fears meaning when we leave our anxieties and fears in God’s hands, He will help us through it.
So why not spend time today focusing on God and truly worshipping Him?
May the song below, My Worship by Darrell Walls encourage you to focus on worshiping God even in the midst of what’s going on around you and then you can answer this week’s questions below. If you missed the other blogs in the Peace series, check out Part 1 or Part 2.
Questions for this week
1. What role do you think social media plays in pushing the agenda of fear?
2. How can changing your focus change your life?
Let me know your answers to these questions in the comments below or on social media on my page @scharsmind. I’m looking forward to hearing from you!
Answers from last week’s questions
Why do we as Christians sometimes worry even though we know God? Skyler said “Although we’re Christians we’re human first and our immediate response to uncomfortable or scary situations is to worry.”
What advice would you have for someone who is struggling with fear? Zipporah said, “Pray to God and believe His promises. “Be anxious for nothing, “Fear not for I am your God.” Whenever we have that doubt read His words and be encouraged and claim it. Surround yourself with positive, uplifting people.”
Schar's Mind 
1) Social Media has its Pros and Cons but most of what we see are negative images and videos or something that is so disturbing for out peace. It’s up to us Christians to share more positive.
2) It’s not easy because tough times brings worry and stress. But focusing on Christ, what he’s done for us and remembering that he will always be there for us through anything should motivate us to keep pushing and focus on Christ.
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