Divine Focus

I don’t know about you, but this summer feels like living through a haboob of chaotic events. They all sound so serious—which are really the most important to focus on? I feel powerless to do much about any of them. Do you need me to detail what I mean: war between the US and Iran; Israel and Lebanon and Gaza; Russia and Ukraine; Sudan civil war; South Sudan; earthquakes in Columbia, Indonesia, and Japan; AI and data centers; extreme weather events and predictions of a strong El Niño; lack of agreement about the Colorado River and Lake Powell at historic lows; election battles between Maricopa County’s Recorder and Supervisor, Gen Z is using the word “polyester” to describe anything fast and cheap… the list goes on and on. I’m feeling blinded and paralyzed by the storm of news.

How much time and energy do we spend reading, watching, thinking about these things? Ironically, I’m thinking about them right now and asking you to do the same! Actually, I’m asking you to step back with me and think about how we as Christians may think about the storm of serious (and some not so serious) news. How does Christ call us to approach the world and all the available information about the world?

First, the good news is that Jesus is alive and has conquered Sin, Death, and the Devil. No matter how bad the storm seems, we know that in the end there is Forgiveness, Life, and Love because Jesus died and was raised! So, don’t be distracted thinking the current storm is eternal. Let the Holy Spirit focus your mind and heart of Jesus’s eternal life and let that hope and joy flood your awareness!

Second, develop the habit of praying when you feel upset or distracted. If you’re focused on extreme weather peeling back our neighbor’s roofs, ask God to provide for those people affected and to let you know if you are supposed to do something more. Perhaps God will help you see something to do; but if not, let it go. Trust God to take care of it, in ways you won’t know or perhaps even understand.

Third, focus on where you do have influence. Each of us has differing time, abilities, energy, and other resources. With a neighbor across the street who lost their roof, we can find out if they need food or clothes or other things. We actually can do something. When it comes to the war with Iran, we are more limited. We can call or email our leaders (you can search the internet and get their information very fast). We can join a protest to end the war. But you may not feel that either of those are within your inclination, energy or abilities.

One of the great privileges of living in these United States is that we elect our leaders—and we have a chance to do that in November. This is one of the most important influences we have as citizens—and as Christians we need to ask God to guide us to apply the values we learn from Jesus to our selection of leaders. The issue is not whether a leader identifies themselves as a Christian or not, but whether they show the values that we see from Jesus in the Bible.

Try this: when you are distracted by some serious news, first pray and give it to God. Then add it to a list of news that is important to you. Search that news and a candidate to see what their stand on that issue is. Then compare it to your own thoughts. For example, if you’re concerned about water in Arizona, try searching for “Colorado river” and a person’s name. Do they reflect Jesus’s concern for the least in our society? Is that a person you want to vote for?

God is so gracious to give us the Holy Spirit, active in our lives in ways we can’t always sense or understand! May the Spirit give us Divine Focus when we feel blind and paralyzed in the storms of serious issues we face every day!

Trusting in Jesus to lead us in the storm,

Pastor Peter