“It looks like it’ll be a foggy day,” my mom said as she shuffled into the kitchen in her robe to put the coffee on.
My heart sank. I was visiting my elderly mom for only a couple of days, and I had planned something special for the afternoon.
I went to the kitchen window and pulled the curtains back for a better look, hoping to see a ray of sun breaking through the gloomy fog. That’s when my mom and I both had a good laugh. With a closer inspection, we could see the day wasn’t foggy, but the windows were!
If I’m honest, I have to admit that’s what happens sometimes when I focus on certain situations in my life. Strained relationships, decisions to make, or even disappointments can feel stressful and gloomy when I’m hyper-focused on them.
But when I turn my eyes on Jesus, suddenly I see more clearly. Christ and His unfailing love come into focus, and my heart is filled with hope.
What we focus on can have a huge effect on our stress level. Jesus told us to “seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” (Matthew 6:33). Stressing over this life won’t change things. Like someone said, “Today is the tomorrow we worried about yesterday.”
On the other hand, fixing our attention on our Heavenly Father who has the whole world in His hands will change how we think, feel, and respond to everything. I don’t want to live another minute focusing on this life so much that I miss seeing the Lord.
No matter what we’re facing, we can open the Scriptures and get a glimpse of the Savior who loves us and who cares about the details of our lives. With that kind of perspective, a gloomy forecast can turn into a beautiful, hope-filled day.
