Proverbs 4:25 – “Let your eyes look directly ahead and let your gaze be fixed straight in front of you.”

As I was reading, praying, and pondering the Word of God today, two thoughts began to expand in my heart.   They are not unconnected but may appear so.  They are “Focus and Delay.”

In Matthew 14, we have the incredible account of Peter walking on the water.  Something in that event captured my thoughts.

The disciples had witnessed an incredible creative multiplication miracle, 5,000 men plus their families fed with five small loaves of flatbread and a couple of sardine-sized fish.   I can only imagine what they were thinking (if they were thinking) as they followed His instructions to go by boat to the other side of the lake.   Basking in the sense of awe from what they had witnessed, a storm came.   They feared for their lives.   It seems that the most intense storms follow great victories.

Jesus came to them, walking on the water.    They presumed it was a vision or a ghost because that was impossible!   He assured them that He was real, but Peter asked for further confirmation in verse 28 – “If it’s really You, command me to come to You walking on the water.  Jesus said, Come!”

Peter’s focus shifted from His problem to Jesus.   In that state of focus, the water became like concrete, and the winds and waves no longer gripped him with fear.   He got out of the boat and began walking on the water.  All was wonderful until…

UNTIL?  Until his focus shifted again.  He shifted from seeing Jesus only to seeing the power and danger of his surroundings.  At that moment of focus change, fear entered his heart.

A change in focus, shifting from Jesus to the problem, opened the door to fear, and fear brought failure; he began to sink!   Remember that, in the natural, in water, you don’t slowly sink; you SINK.   Struggling to keep his head above water, he shifted his focus back to Jesus and cried out, “My Lord, save me!” (v. 30)

The delay in coming to them tested them.   It presented the opportunity for them to exercise their faith and implement His teaching.  They forgot the loaves and fishes.  They forgot His teachings and promises and became consumed by the storm.

Being focused in the calm and the storm is where God desires to take us.  Focused on Jesus, we walk on the problem.   If we focus on the problem, we become overwhelmed by the storm.  We are in Him and live through Him.

Hebrews 12:2 instructs us to “Fix” our eyes on Jesus.  If we stay focused on Him, the promise of Isaiah 43:2 becomes a reality.  The waters won’t overwhelm us, and the fire won’t burn us.  We will soar like an eagle and fulfill His purposes.

My encouragement is Do Not Let Delay Distract You or Cause Your Focus to shift away from Jesus, not even for a moment.

I pray that today your focus will be firm on Jesus and He will lift you to new victories!