Focusing on God

This last week and a half has been very difficult for me.  I have been without my family as they have had to travel down to Florida for the wedding of my sister-in-law.  I do not do well alone.  It is not that I cannot survive, I can cook and clean and generally take care of myself, but emotionally I have come to realize just how much I love having my wife and children around and it is just plain odd to come home to a house that is empty.  In moments like these I have encouraged others to focus on God and allow Him to be a help, but for some reason this time I realized that there was something more to focusing on God. 

As I daily prayed and reflected on the absence of my family, I wanted to focus on God.  When I was feeling something was missing, I took that thing and focused on the character of God related to the very item that I was experiencing.  For example, when I missed the presence of my family I focused on the presence of God and verses like Hebrews 13:5, "I will never leave you or forsake you".  When I was missing the loving hugs and kisses, I focused on the love of God expressed to me.  When I was concerned for their safety, I thought about the way that God cares for even the sparrows and how not a single one falls to the ground without his knowledge. 

In each item of anxiety, I was helped when I focused on the character of God and His revealed Word.  I found solace and encouragement each time I chose to look away from my circumstances and look to the God who is in control.  This does not mean there were not tears or that I suddenly started smiling every time I came home, it was still a really hard week, but I had the ability to better cope because I was looking at someone bigger than myself each time I was struggling. 

I wonder if this would help you too today.  In whatever it is that you are struggling with, look to the character of God that He reveals in His Word.  Find solace and comfort in the arms of the one who has promised that He will meet all your needs according to the riches of grace expressed to us in Jesus Christ.  Hold on to the one who is holding on to you and realize that even in anxiety and hardship, He is there.