Ever notice how when we are in the middle of tuff stuff in life that it can be more difficult to see God’s hand? Why is that? We question God’s heart, His ability to take care of us, and sometimes even His existence.

I believe it is a focus problem, in part it is because we condition ourselves to focus on the problems instead of God. We tend to look for the flames of the fire instead of looking to God. It is kind of like when people slow down on the Interstate to look at the guy with the flat tire. Why does everyone slow down? Is it so they can help the guy? Are they praying for him? Not generally. They are merely curious and often simply being nosy. Our attention is drawn and consumed by those elements of disaster more easily then they are consigned to rest in the calm and peace of God’s love and grace.

“May the Lord answer you when you are in distress; may the name of the God of Jacob protect you.”  Psalm 20:1

I pray that we become a people who are always aware of God’s presence in our lives. It is not realistic or proper to think we would live in ignorance or live blindly avoiding problems. Rather I believe it is God’s intention that we would see every issue in life first through the lens of God’s wonderful grace. That we would choose to focus on the depths of God’s ability rather then the despair of life’s problems.

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1