Turn Your Eyes

Hey guys! Its been a while, but trust me, I have not just been lazing around ignoring my deeper thought. No, I have just been extremely busy with moving halfway around the world. But this experience has afforded me with a few thoughts.

Months ago, when I first started trying to plan my move, I was stressed. This was my thought process. I would like to point out some key words. Those would be: I, plan, my, and stressed. Ha! Really, this is what I thought. And unfortunately, this is what a lot of people think like.

Let me explain. I lived in Romania last year for about 2 1/2 months. I LOVED IT! And while I was here, God hooked my heart on the high school/collage age youth. My plans went out the window. I dropped out of school when I moved back to the States and started working for Starbucks to save up money in order to move back. I felt very strongly called to Romania and I was and still am certain that that is where God has called me for the time being (whether that be an extremely long time or a relatively short time).

So I was moving. I was working. I was planning. I was trying to prepare myself. I, I, I... Me, me, me... and I was stressed, stressed, stressed. Though I didn't show it, or maybe I did, I was exhausted from worry and stress and unknowns. Then God convicted me. I don't remember how, but I know He did. I realized that my focus should not be on the planning. It shouldn't be on providing for myself. It shouldn't be on the money. It should be on Jesus. I should be focusing on and following God as closely as I can, so that He can lead me and take me where I need to go.

We as humans try to control to much of our life. And where does that get us? Anger, depression, work-aholicism (if thats even a word), stress, exhaustion, business. If we have all of those things going on in our life, how much time can we possibly be spending on our relationships with Christ? How can He be completely in control of our lives and us be completely out of control? It isn't possible. Obviously, he isn't at the wheel. We are.

God promises us a life of freedom. A life of joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Do any of those sound like a depressed, stressed, tired, workaholic. Please, say no. If you say yes, then we have other issues here.

My point is, we should primarily be focusing on Jesus and He will make the plans for us. He will take us where we need to go. It may not be the plan we would have made for ourselves, but it will be the best thing that ever happened to us. There is a saying. "If you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans." Well, I told him mine, and he laughed hard. However, just because he laughed doesn't mean I wasn't doing the right thing. I was just plugged in to the wrong outlet. I had my eye on the wrong goal. Keep your eyes on Christ and he will work together for the good of those who love him, and are called according to his purpose.

O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

• Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
  Look full in His wonderful face,
  And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
  In the light of His glory and grace.