Every day we are faced with new struggles, new challenges, and additional points of stress. Life just never stops coming at us and it’s all too easy to feel overwhelmed. Satan loves to alter our focus so we only see what is immediately around us. We begin to believe our problems are bigger than they are, and that others have it so much easier than we do. When we take a step back and look at the world around us, we see our own problems to be so small in comparison. Still, they are our problems, our issues, and our frustrations. We are the ones who have to deal with them. We are the ones who must find ways to follow Christ through all of the obstacles that Satan throws into our path.
It’s interesting how significant our petty problems can become when we take our eyes off of Jesus and allow Satan to amplify an annoyance into a full blown crisis. Stress in the workplace, conflicts in relationships, or bills that have a way of outnumbering the money in our checking account – Satan loves to use everything in our lives to make us feel like we are going under. Whenever you begin to feel defeated, down, or blue, take a moment and zoom out. See the world from a higher point of view. Remind yourself that nearly half the world lives on $2 per day or less. Since you are sitting at a computer accessing the internet reading this blog, I am going to make the pretty safe bet that you are earning more than $60 each month. Millions of young people are trapped in slavery with little hope of ever being freed. Millions more have no freedom to worship God or even read the Bible. We are blessed beyond belief, so how dare we allow ourselves to wallow in the mire of despair and mediocrity. This is not who we were created to be.
Life will throw each of us our fair share of curveballs. We’ve got to remember the reason we are here. We were created to advance the Kingdom of God through the use of the talents and passions He has instilled within us all. We were created to further the mission of Christ by reflecting His love to everyone in need. Life is so much more than selfish pleasures or luxurious indulgences. Life is hard, it’s sweaty, and it’s dirty. In other words, it takes work.
Living for Jesus is not a ticket to an easier life. Your daily struggles won’t disappear regardless of how far you try and run away from them. The truth is the only time life is able to get to us is when we allow Satan to distract us from Christ. When we are focused on ourselves, our problems seem huge because they primarily affect us and that’s where we have our eyes. When we look to Jesus and do the things He’s called us to do, our selfish desires fall away because we realize it’s all about Him. Don’t stay trapped in your pity party. Lift your eyes. Tell the devil to get his junk out of your life. Focus on Jesus. He is the answer. He is the way. He is the light in your darkest night.
How is Satan tempting you to take your eyes off Jesus? Share your need by leaving a comment below so that we can all pray for one another.