Focus

You and I have great faith in Jesus Christ. We believe He is indeed the Son of God and He is our help in our times of trouble. 

One of my favorite stories, that is such a strength to me, is in Matt. 14:22-31. This is the story of after feeding the 5 thousand, Jesus sent his disciples in a ship to to go to the other side and He went alone to pray. The weather kicked in and waves started tossing the boat and the hour got late. Somewhere between 3 and 6 in the morning, Jesus started walking, on the water, toward the boat. The disciples were afraid and thought He was a Spirit. Jesus spoke and reassured them that it was Him and to not be afraid. 

Peter was excited and wanted to walk on the water also and Christ said...Come. Peter got off of the ship and started walking and then he sank. 

Now a lot of people say he lost faith but if you read the scripture it doesn't say that at all. It says...But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid, and beginning to sink. At this moment he cried, saying...Lord, save me. the scriptures say that ...immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him... So when Peter took his eyes off of the Savior, lost his focus and started looking at the rough water caused by a wild wind, he sank but as soon as he looked to Christ, as he was sinking and simply said...Lord, save me...The Lord immediately reached out with his hand and caught hold of him. 

When the storms have raged around me in my life, when there are boisterous winds, rough waters, and I'm sinking, I have found that in my mind's eye I recall this story. Because I know it is true, I know that power is still there. 

When I start to look around and start to sink, I inwardly refocus and look to Christ and say...Lord, save me. He always does. At the worst moments in my life He has saved me from falling completely apart and I'm thankful for that. 

I center myself and stop looking at all the stuff going on around me, all the boisterous things that stir up my life and I fix my gaze on the Lord. I will myself to look to Christ and He is there for me and He is there for you. 

You have great faith and that will get you through this horrendous storm with side winds etc. all over the place. I know you are wonderful and loved by heavenly beings and that includes Christ.

You will make it through this calamitous time.

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the above was written to a precious friend that was struggling.  I remember now writing before a blog similar about Peter. (see below)  I really and truly draw tremendous strength from Peter's experience.  I use it a lot in my life!!  I'm no storm chaser for sure!! 

http://acandlestick.blogspot.com/2011/10/sure-footedness.html

Sure-footedness!

Sometimes it feels like the warranties are expiring with my friends mortal bodies.  Is there some sort of coded expiration date on all of us!!  Maybe that is where the word expired comes from.  A few of my peers are facing really serious disease beyond aches and pains of aging.  This is when the refiners fire is sorely felt.

Today I was visiting with a friend that got dreadfully tough news from a biopsy.  This is about endurance and faith and staying the course as we make our way through mortality. when we get hit with the harshness of happenings in our bodies, that we can't simply wash or wish away, we can't quit.  These are tests of faith for those going through tough times and also for those of us watching them tread along.

My belief is in the validity of the Scriptures and knowing that God does not lie. Therefore if I can find something written in the Standard Works or spoken at a General Conference by those authorized then I hold onto those words as Gospel truth.  I take them at face value and I embrace them. They sustain me. 

Today as I thought of my friend and what she is facing, I mulled over 
1 Nephi 19:23,24-....I did liken all scripture unto us that it might be for our profit and learning....liken them unto yourselves.
I wonder what scriptures she holds onto when the going gets rough?  I realize that I don't know.  

In the past I wondered how Peter, who experienced so much firsthand with the Savior, was unable to stay on top of things literally.  Why did he sink?  Why did he lose faith?  Later I came to understand, at least for me, his faith didn't waver as much as he lost focus.  His vision shifted, he wasn't paying attention to the task at hand and he lost his miraculous footing.  He started walking toward the Savior But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid: and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. and immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him.... (Matt. 14:22-33) 

He lost his concentration.  When he saw/focused/looked at the storm around him then he sunk.  When I find myself sinking with the buffetings of my own life storms and feel myself overwhelmed and sinking- then I think of Peter, take a deep breath, refocus my mind to clarity, look away from the rough weather, and say a prayer ...Lord, save me... I am helped as Peter was.  Not that things are removed but it's as if I'm sheltered and I'm not being tossed in the storms of my personal life at that time.  I hope to share that with my friend.  Maybe she already has that as one of her lifelines but I'll still share and bear my testimony to her of it's truthfulness.  Maybe she will find strength and solace when she starts to sink.