Where is your focus?

Recently the New Life students and some of the staff attended a revival service at a church that supports the New Life Center.  When we arrived the church was full of anticipation about the evening’s speaker and what God was going to say through him.  After greeting those we knew I proceeded to take a member of our group to the nursery to drop off her 6month old baby; Kalea.  Kalea’s mom is a first time mother and like all of us a bit apprehensive about leaving our little ones in the care of someone we don’t really know.  To make things more exciting just recently Kalea developed the capability to distinguish mom from everyone else, so of course Kalea was not happy at all to be left behind.   I offered to stay in the nursery and I assured mom Kalea would be fine so she made her long good byes then attended the service. 

Little did I know I was being set up to meet with God in a very precious way…

Because of the circumstances of Kalea’s life she has never been in an atmosphere where there were other children crying and sometimes screaming, so she quickly became terrified of the unfamiliar surroundings and sounds.  She began to cry; quite honestly she learned a new level of screaming that should win some kind of award, but it was in her hard lesson of life that God began to talk to me about something we can all relate to.

I held Kalea the entire time as fear gripped her at a deeper level than I would have thought a baby could experience.  The only thing I knew to do was to hold her and keep telling her “You’re ok, I’m here”.  She frantically looked around the room at each person and gave attention to every sound by screaming in fear.  It seemed no matter what I said or did, she was full focused on the things she feared around her.

Eventually Kalea wore herself out and fell asleep; I don’t think she had ever had that much exercise.  She slept for about 10 minutes then woke up finding me gazing at her sweet innocent face.  It was as if she forgot where she was and focused completely on me.  I began to sing to her and she just stared at me completely unaware of the same noises that were there before she fell off to sleep.  The distinct difference was her focus was now on me ~ who I was ~ what I was saying ~ and the assurance that she was in safe arms.  The more she focused on me the more the screaming of the other children did not affect her until finally she sat up in my lap and played with her toy; as if she didn’t even notice everything that  just moments ago had terrified her.

God used Kalea that night to remind me of the value of keeping my eyes “fixed” on Him. 

It reminded me of this verse in scripture:

“He shall not be afraid of evil tidings; his heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord”. - Ps 112:7

How many times I remember finding myself like Kalea in a situation that was unfamiliar and intimidating.  I too had the challenge of not focusing on the unfamiliar surroundings and sounds.  Because of being hurt many times in my life, I struggled with trying to control everything and everyone so I felt safe.  I unconsciously thought if I don’t understand what is happening or I can’t control the circumstance I am going to be hurt. 

But as I have come to really know the love God has for me, I stopped looking at the things and people around me and simply look to Him. 

God’s way of saying “You’re ok, I’m here” is through His Word.  He is telling you in Is 32:18:

“You shall dwell in a peaceable habitation, and in sure dwellings, and in quiet resting places.” BECAUSE I’m Here…

We continue to pray for you,
Dottie