Shifted focus

That morning the challenges we were having with my youngest were weighing heavily on me. Walking away from the school drop off I was close to tears.

As I drove away, feeling the weight of my son’s disability, the Scripture “this is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad” sprang to mind (Psalm 118:24).

I recited it and then started singing it over and over (old school). All the while trying to understand how a day that holds the hard and painful could be one that I could rejoice in.

How can this paradox work? To be rejoicing while sad? To be glad while in pain? How can we experience these contrary emotions at the same time? How can we learn to be “always rejoicing” in the midst of sorrow? Or as the Apostle Paul said to be “sorrowful, yet always rejoicing” (2 Corinthians 6:10)

The words of this Scripture actually lead us to worship and to rejoice as they remind us of how faithful the Lord has been. It puts the focus on God. When we fix our eyes on Jesus, when we trust in Him; our anxieties, fears and worries are replaced by His peace. We are comforted. We are not alone. And in that security we can indeed be glad.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

When we lift our eyes to Jesus and focus on Him, our circumstances don’t change, but the load is lightened by God who carries our burdens. We gain an eternal perspective.

That night I kept waking singing the words to a recent Christian single by Forrest Frank that has gone viral.

I'm 'bout to have a good day 
No matter what they say 
The sun is shining down on me, birds are singing praise
I'm 'bout to have a good day in every single way
The God who made the universe knows me by my name
So it's a good day 

Seems my spirit got the message…

He has made me glad.