How many times have you longed for that beautiful ocean view in the midst of some very exhausting or stressful times?  I can recall many times when I longed to be on the beach with my feet in the sand and the sun warming my skin but was in the midst of an awful storm.  Rain slamming down upon my back, wading through feet of water and muck all while trying not to get knocked down into the water by all of the flying debris.   Let me just clarify that I am not talking about Hurricane Katrina, Rita, Andrew or Ike.  This storm that I am talking about is called “life.” 

Too often we just let “life” treat us like an old dock that gets beat up by the waves of change or trampled on by the feet of others’ hidden agendas.  When this happens we tend to look at the ground to make sure that where will are going to step next is solid.  However, while looking down every once in a while is good to make sure that we have a solid footing it can be extremely damaging to your spirit and your soul.  While looking down we take our eyes off of Jesus Christ.  Life doesn’t always allow you to see the ocean view that you have dreamt about, but that is exactly when we need to focus not on the ocean view but on Jesus Christ.  Hear what the book of Hebrews tells us about staying focused on Jesus:

“Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we’d better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we’re in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he’s there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!”  Hebrews 12:1-3, The Message

You see, when we allow life’s storms and trials get us looking at our circumstances or simply losing hope, we have lost sight of God’s purpose for life.  We need to realize that “it’s not about me.”  Max Lucado has written a book entitled, “It’s Not About Me.”  In this book Max points out to believers that when things happen to us or to those we love it’s not so we can ask “why me? or what did I do to deserve this?”    It is all about trying to figure out how God wants to use this situation to bring glory to Himself. 

I know that when I lose focus of Christ it quickly becomes all about me.  The challenge is this:  when you start to question “why me?” simply ask God to show himself to you.  Go back to God’s Word and read about other’s who have also faced many trials and horrible situations.  See how they managed to make it through all of those circumstances without sinning.  See what they did to help them stay focused on God the Father or Jesus Christ.   Then take a look at your situation through different lenses, God’s lenses.