Focusing on God and eternal realities can transform the most difficult and stressful circumstances into experiences of joy and God’s blessing.
My second son, Daniel, was born with multiple problems involving his brain, heart, and lungs. During his first three months, I focused on how terrible and overwhelming things were. I became more and more overwhelmed and depressed. The situation looked impossible.
My stress situation was huge, but I made it even bigger because internal stress distorted my perception and increased the total pressure I experienced.
During Daniel’s next three months, I began to focus on God rather than my problems. I saw that God is bigger and more powerful than any disease. Things did not seem nearly as overwhelming.
Was Daniel better? No. Actually, he was worse. I found out my son had less than a year to live. But I was not as overwhelmed, discouraged, or depressed as I had been. I had an amazing peace and joy because I chose to focus on God rather than on my circumstances.
That change in perception, though not always easy to maintain, gave me strength and courage to face each day.
When Daniel died, I held his lifeless body in my arms. Through my tears, I knew that he was with Jesus, completely healed and perfect. It was not the kind of healing I had prayed for, yet tears mingled with joy. I would miss him, and I knew I would see him again.
When I focus on the Lord, my problems seem to shrink in comparison with God’s greatness and power.
Your perspective can make the difference between feeling overwhelmed by trouble and being surprised by joy. It can even change the small stressors of life into opportunities to worship God rather than simply feeling irritated.
Excerpted from All Stressed Up and Everywhere to Go! by Gaylyn and Ken Williams.