What is Your Focal Point?

Hebrews 12:2

“Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.”

Those of you who have given birth in the last few decades and those of you who have been there to witness this birth, will be familiar with the term “focal point.” Expectant mothers are asked to bring something with them to the labor room that they can focus on when the pain comes. Normally it is something that brings them joy or comfort. So, when the labor pains get intense, they are told to look at the focal point and concentrate on it to help them get through the pain.

Although we all can’t relate to this experience, we all can relate to the pain and intense trials that we all go through at one point or another in our lives. What do you focus on? What is your “focal point?” Do you have a “focal point?” For many people, I would say that they focus on the trial or the pain itself. The problem with doing this is that it doesn’t help the pain, does it? It intensifies it and makes it seem even worse than the reality of it.

2 Corinthians 4:18

“While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen:

for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

God tells us over and over again in His Word to focus on Him and Him alone. There are so many verses that tell us that when we are going through hard times, focus on the Lord. But like many other promises and verses that we have access to, we don’t listen, do we? We tend to focus on the trial and the pain that we are experiencing. When your trials become your focal point then your focus is completely off the Lord, the Only One Who can help you.

Matthew 14:24-31

“But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt?”

Let’s take a lesson from Peter. When he was focused on the Lord and didn’t look around at the stormy sea, he was able to walk on the water, but the moment that he took his eyes off the Lord and began to look around at the troubled waters and the tempest that was all around him, he began to sink. He would have been fine and could have walked all the way to Jesus if he had just made Him the focal point and not the trials around him.

The story is told of a friend who showed Helen Lemmel a tract that was entitled “Focused.” Helen was a popular Christian singer and voice

teacher. She was immediately touched by the words written on the tiny piece of paper. Later she wrote the words and music to a hymn that we know and love and I have sung many times. It is “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.”

“O soul, are you weary and troubled? No light in the darkness you see?

There’s light for a look at the Savior, and life more abundant and free!

Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and things of

earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”

Are you going through a trial? Are you in pain? Then turn your eyes upon Jesus. Make Him your “focal point.” He will see you through and bring you comfort and healing.