Your focus is essential to weathering the storm.

I remember growing up in Florida and I had been on many boats. One boat trip in particular though, as a kid, I remember getting seasick. It was the worst experience ever. I had never felt like that, I was at the mercy of the sea and the waves. Rocking back and forth, back and forth, back and forth…. I was getting more and more queasy. I felt so helpless. The captain of the boat was kind of entertained by the fact I was feeling so rough, but he came up to me and said, “Son, let me help you. Look across the sea and focus on the horizon. Focus on the calm of the straight line out there.” As I did what he instructed, I started to feel better. My stomach calmed down, my anxiety went away. Everything was relaxed. It was all a matter of focus.

I’ve found in life that we may be at the mercy of circumstance. We may be at the mercy of a great storm that’s trying to overtake us. But like that boat captain told me, focus on the horizon. Find your horizon. It’s a matter of focus. This happened to one of the most bold disciples of Jesus as well.

Matthew 14:28-31 NIV
“Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!” Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”

Peter lost his focus. He started looking at his circumstance and began to sink. That’s what happens. When we look at our circumstance we start to sink into it. When everything around you is raging; your sense of peace is determined by your focus. No matter what waves come at you if you keep your focus on something bigger than yourself and your circumstance, you will make it. Your focus is essential to weathering the storm. Focus on Who God is and what He is doing in you. That’s the focus.

Isaiah 26:3 ESV
You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

When we stay focused on God, the Creator who is bigger than us, our horizon gets settled. Our focus gets straight. Allow your horizon to be Jesus and you will instantly feel peace in the midst of your storm.