Distractions

“Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.” Colossian 3:2 KJV

Distractions are defined as things that prevent us from giving full attention to something else. This world is filled with so many distractions— work, television, electronics, finances, social media, hobbies, etc. Distractions are meant to hinder us and keep our minds preoccupied. Not only can we become distracted from worldly things, unexpected and unforeseen circumstances, but we can also become distracted spiritually. Spiritual distractions are designed to remove us from the path that God has set for us or to take our focus off of Him. I often reflect on Peter, in Matthew 14:22-30, when Jesus called him out of the boat to come to Him on the water. Peter stepped out on faith — he trusted Jesus. It was only when Peter got distracted by what was going on around him….the strong, turbulent wind — that he took his eyes off of Jesus and began to sink.

“And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” Romans 12:2 KJV

So much has happened in my life in the past year and a half. I’ve been hit in every place and in every way that could hurt me the most — from losing loved ones, family issues, and multiple health challenges. It seemed like every time I turned around, the hits just kept coming….before I could deal with one thing, another would occur out of nowhere. It felt like nothing in my life was off-limits. My heart was heavy as well as my emotions. I knew that what I was going through was spiritual. This attack was very deliberate and very personal.

“Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.” John 14:1 KJV

I had become stagnant ….so wrapped up in, and consumed by everything that I was going through to the point where it felt like my focus had shifted and my spiritual walk was off. Yes, I would write but not the way that I am now. The feeling just wasn’t the same and I would often get discouraged and just put away my pen and paper. I would feel horrible because I felt like I was neglecting my purpose. I knew that I needed to write, and I desperately wanted to, but I didn’t know exactly how or what to write that would help articulate what I was feeling. I have written and published a few blogs sporadically during this time, but I still didn’t feel right personally because I was dealing with my own battles, and I needed encouragement myself. I would often say, “Lord, how can I give an encouraging word to uplift others when my life was in turmoil?”

It felt like being trapped in a maze and every turn was a dead-end, no matter how much progress I felt like I was making….I would hit another wall and I couldn’t move. As I look back, I think to myself….maybe I needed to hit that wall, in a sense….maybe it was a way of forcing me to deal with my emotions and everything else that I was carrying mentally, physically, and spiritually. For months, I had been trying to figure out what lesson I was supposed to learn or get out of ALL the chaos and setbacks that I had been facing. For months, I’d been trying to get to this place —praying for understanding, wisdom, and discernment in this situation. I was watching a vlog recently and I heard the word “distractions” — I wrote the word down on a piece of notebook paper, but it still didn’t fully register at that time.

A couple of weeks ago, I talked to God about what I was feeling, and I asked Him to remove or reveal whatever it was that was keeping me from writing or being close to Him like I was. I sat down and I started to write….I wrote about every situation and every circumstance that had gotten me to this point and before I knew it, I had written nearly 8 pages. Once I got finished writing, everything started to make sense….it finally clicked…..everything that I had written were ALL distractions. At that moment, it felt as if the mental, physical spiritual, and emotional block had been removed and I had FINALLY gotten the breakthrough that I was seeking. The feeling of having the weight that I had been carrying being lifted off of my shoulders, was indescribable. I am so overjoyed that I finally can get past the wall. Being able to sit here and just write freely, like I used to, brings tears to my eyes.

“And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” Romans 8:28 KJV

There are several blogs that I have started but haven’t completed. I will publish them soon because they are all centered around the biblical lessons that I was learning in the midst of this trying season. It wasn’t time for them to be completed at that time but was strictly for me to study and grow in godly wisdom and understanding. I felt like they would have been released out of order and without giving context as to what I had been going through. Therefore, it was very important that I wrote this one first. As I stated previously, I didn’t know what to write, but I knew that I needed to — and in God’s timing, He gave me the right words to say….God is truly a God of order.

“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine, no more can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches. He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit for without me ye can do nothing.” John 15:4-5 KJV

When I started this blog, I said that I wanted to be as transparent and authentic as possible. I’m not one to pretend that my life is perfect because that is the furthest thing from the truth. “Life happens” to all of us. None of us are above or immune to the troubles of this world. As long as we are here in this sin-filled world, we will have hard trials and we will face adversity. There is no way around it. But we can take solace in knowing that we have a comforter, helper, and loving Father, who will never leave us nor forsake us. Yes, my faith was shaken, but it wasn’t lost.

“The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 KJV

When we truly give our life to Christ, we instantly become an enemy to Satan and his number one goal is to try and make our walk seem impossible, hard, or not worthwhile. The warfare that we go through is even greater because of who we are and what we represent. He will send everything and everyone he can to discourage and distract us to get us to give up and turn our backs on the only One who truly cares about our soul salvation. He will often use the ones that are the closest to us to hurt us the deepest.

“Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.” 1 Peter 5:8 KJV

There is always a lesson to be learned from every hardship and struggle that we face…. even if we do not understand it right away. God will either remove it or teach us how to get through it. But we must truly Trust in Him. Remember…...No battle is too big or too hard for God. Do not let the distractions of this world keep you from hearing the voice of the Lord or shift your focus off of Him. The more distracted we are, the more ineffective we are. Stay in His will.

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26:3 KJV