Walking slowly while looking down at seashells.

Stopping to look at the water.

Pausing to pick up a shell that piqued my interest.

Stopping to take a picture of the birds.

Watching the little waves wash across my feet.

Walking along the shores of the Gulf of America, I was constantly distracted by the seashells and birds, when right on the other side of me was the grandeur of the creation of the gulf. I sometimes do that in life. I often focus on the trivial, the mundane, the worthless, the little things, rather than focusing on the grandeur, the creativity, the majesty, the vastness of my God. I look at seashells rather than hearing His majestic voice that sounds like the rush of many waters. I can spend more time thinking of painful parts of life than of the God who is in me, beside me, and right in front of me. I’ve been known to talk more of my difficulties than praising my almighty God. I often focus on the little things rather than living in the abundant life, the expanse of life, the powerful life, the creative life that He has created me to live.

He is huge and right in front of me, and I still look down at my feet.

It seems God always meets me by the ocean with a message that changes things for me, encourages me, or maybe even teaches me a life lesson; and I didn’t want to leave this time without having my encounter with Him, so I asked Him what He would like to speak to me.

He said “On the beach, focus on the vastness of Me.”

So, I did. I stopped and turned my body so I could take in the vastness of the gulf that for me, in that moment, represented the vastness of God. I knew He was telling me to stop looking at the little things in front of me or being distracted by the little things around me so I could experience the vastness of Him. It’s not the first time He’s had to remind me of this.

It was my reminder to keep my eyes on the vastness of God in the regular parts of my life, too, to focus on Him and His limitless power, wisdom, creativity, and ability, and so much more. I can’t make it through anything without Him, but with Him I can make it through everything.

He won’t leave me. He won’t leave you.

Our focus has to be Him instead of the fleeting things around us: the circumstances, the moments, the pain, the questions, the disappointments. If and when we keep our minds on Him, He promised to give us peace (Isaiah 26:3).

See? Keeping our focus on Him causes us to trust Him, and the more we trust Him, the more peace we have!

Then right before it was time for me to go back to my family, He added this very important addendum: what I could see is just a little bitty part of what He’s created, and what I know about Him is just a little part of who He really is, just like that view of the gulf is just a tiny part of the vastness of the oceans. He is more, so much more, than I can even comprehend. “‘Who is like You, O Lord, among the gods? Who is like You, glorious in holiness, Fearful in praises, doing wonders?'” (Exodus 15:11 NKJV).

Practically, just like I watched the seashells and birds, I sometimes focus on details, temporary things, and pretty things can draw my attention away from important things. What is right in front of me can distract my focus away from God, but I am asking Him to help me, to remind me, to draw my attention back to Him, since that is where faith, peace, rest, power, victory, and answered prayers live. That’s the best place for my mind and thoughts, and it makes all the difference.

When we are struggling with anxiety, hurt, questions, doubts, or worry, focusing on the Lord is the answer to turn it all around.