It is easy for our lives to get confused and out of focus, isn’t it? Sometimes people say and do things that bother us. Sometimes we feel jumbled with fears and problems. When we feel confused or in the dark, it is time to start focusing on the most important thing. What is that? Yes, God and His goodness. When we let Him get our full attention, then we can begin to see everything as it really is. Have you ever looked through binoculars or a microscope? At first everything is blurry. Maybe you can see lines and colors all blended together. But if you adjust the lens slowly, you can focus on the object you want to see—maybe a bird in the tree, or cells in an onion root. Suddenly everything is clear and understandable! In the same way, we need to focus our thoughts on God until we see His goodness clearly.

Getting focused is really important, but it’s easy to focus on the wrong thing. What if you were looking through binoculars and got focused on a speck of dirt on the window instead of the bird? Now no matter how hard you look, you won’t see anything but dirt. And that’s how it is with our minds. If we decide to focus on our problems or the troubles around us, that’s all we are going to see. And it isn’t very encouraging, is it? We need turn our eyes away from the problems and look at the good things that God wants to show us. When we choose to focus on God, the other things will fade into the background. What do you want to have in focus?

Jesus’ Example

Jesus lived with a life focused on one thing. What was that? Loving God, His Father. Jesus said, “I do always those things that please Him.”* (John 8:29) There were plenty of other things Jesus could have thought about. Plenty of other things that looked more interesting. But Jesus didn’t look at those things. His mind was set—focused—on something more wonderful than having fun or comfort in this life. “What about something to eat? Don’t you want to be popular?” the devil asked (Matthew 4:1-11). Yes, he was hungry. He did want friends and respect. But Jesus knew those things were just sparkly pieces of dirt compared to the real prize. So he kept turning his heart lens until he saw the smile of God. “For the joy that was set before him [he] endured the cross,”* (Hebrews 12:2) the Bible says. Do you see how much joy God has stored up for us when we do what pleases Him? If you focus on God, and let Him fill your thoughts, you will be able to see His goodness and your life will be full of light!