So let me begin by telling you that I really struggle with Focus. It is most likely because I have some sort of undiagnosed Attention Deficit (probably the Hyperactive kind). I really work at managing this problem by creating lists and continually updating and checking my digital calendar.

But everyday lack of focus is, I believe, only symptomatic of a much deeper issue. Stated plainly, I believe that there many people out there that only struggle with daily or micro focus because they are out of focus with their entire life.

Allow me to illustrate what I’m suggesting. There have been times when I have lost my keys (fill in the blank of whatever is important to you). I look everywhere for them! High, low, in, out, on top, and under. I retrace steps, search through bags, and even dig through dirty clothes to find my keys. A few times (more than I care to mention), I have heard a jingle in my pocket or hand only to find that my keys are in my hands or in my pants during my frantic search. Why did this happen? Simply put, my head wasn’t in the game. My mind was elsewhere and I was clearly not focus on the big picture so the little things slipped too.

I believe there are 3 main reasons why we lose focus of the big picture.

It could be because of some deep pain that you feel.

I’m not talking about the physical kind of pain as much as a deep wound that we have in our soul. Someone or something has done something, said something, or not said something that hurt you deeply. Now there is a pain that you can’t get over that continually breaks your soul. It’s not a little nag as much as it is a absolute brokenness. It’s more that a Band-aid fix, you need surgery! No matter what others say to try and make you whole, you feel that deep dagger in your heart, and it distracts you.  If this is you, hang on just a minute and I’ll give you a few ideas on how to help this.

Maybe it’s not a deep pain within you that someone or something caused.

It’s possible that you have suffered a traumatic event.

A couple of months ago I was involved in a single car accident. It was a rainy Georgia day and my wet tires hit a patch of water on a wet bridge and I hydroplaned across the bridge spinning into the median and crashed into a guard rail. As big of manly-man that I am, I was scared to drive in the rain for the next several months (and I kinda still am!). There isn’t pain inside my heart as much as fear. Maybe you’ve gone through something similar. A breakup, a layoff, a traumatic loss, a failed attempt to make a friend, or a combination of these or other traumatic events that have led to fear in your heart. This fear is keeping you from seeing clearly. You can’t function because you are distracted and paralyzed by fear. This is debilitating and frustrating! You feel powerless over your own emotions and feelings! You wonder what’s wrong, and you can’t find the answer. If this is you, hang on.

It’s also possible that you are just like the rest of us and you are bent and broken.

God’s Word tells us that we are all predisposed to some sort of malady or sin that we are bent toward. We are just like a car. We can only drive down the same side of the road for so long before we need realignment. We are all human. We are all normal. we are all broken. The corporate and business world warns leaders and visioneers against this thing called “Mission Drift.” It is the natural inclination of a leader or business to slowly but surely lose sight of its mission. In other words, people and business will slowly drift off course and miss the target they originally set for themselves if not continually kept in check. Do you feel aimless? Do you feel like you lack focus in everyday life because you lack clear mission, direction, or purpose? If so, hang on.

Here’s how I surmise we handle the lack of focus caused by all three issues.

We continually focus on Christ everyday. I know, you are thinking that is too simple, too much of a “Jesus juke”, or too cliche for your real problem. But I would suggest that therein lies the true secret to your success. If you want to focus, you’ll have to simplify things a bit. You’ll have to surrender your will to God’s plan and purpose. You’ll probably have to have some faith and believe that He is all you need and that He is enough.

If you are the wounded soul, you’ll react emotionally in several different ways. You may get angry, you may feel sad, you may become despondent. Allow Christ to heal the wounds of your soul. Let His love, grace, and mercy give a drink to your thirsty heart. Drink in Christ’s truth and embrace the fact that He will always be your greatest hope. Let others off the hook. Forgive them (I know that’s crazy). Find peace in the presence of Jesus.

If you are the traumatized survivor, you’ll want to find strength in Jesus’ arms. You’ll have to exercise the same deep faith that the wounded soul does. If you want focus, keep your eyes fixed on the immutable Christ. That is to say, in all of your instability, allow yourself to rest in His never-ceasing stability. Allow yourself to get help from others. My wife and I drove half-way across the country right after my car accident, and it rained the entire time we were in the car. My wife drove for a good portion of the trip because my nerves were shot. Every time we hit a water puddle I’d clinch up, only to be relieved when we successfully made it through. She helped me feel more comfortable on the journey. Friend, you may need to allow someone else to drive for a little bit to help you regain your confidence to help you focus.

For all of us that suffer from being bent and predisposed to sinfulness. While we are dealing with “mission drift” in our personal lives, maybe we need to gain some perspective. We get so bent out of shape sometimes because of what others are saying or doing, and we forget that we have deep gaping problems in our own lives. A fresh dose of perspective and a continual look at the redeeming Savior will help us regain our focus. While it is no excuse for sinfulness, Christ redeemed their broken and sinful life to Himself just like He redeemed yours. If you are dealing with your brokenness and bent toward sinfulness remember what the writer of Hebrews says in Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” If I can give you the Mitch paraphrase; run your race, stay in your lane, focus on Jesus. He is the prize.

No matter where you are and what causes your lack of focus, the answer is Jesus. He has promised that He will lead us where we need to go if we will follow Him. What is the destination? It’s the same as the one leading us. Jesus is the guide and the goal. Focus on Him and He will reward you with the focus you need.

It’s time to get up and do something hard.

I mean it. You need to exercise the GOD-given potential placed inside of you to do that really hard thing that you’ve been dreading.  Now, let me tell you what I don’t mean and then explain in some detail what I do mean.

I don’t mean making a resolution.

For those of you that already have made a resolution, don’t worry I’m not raining on your parade (maybe, sorta). Let’s face it and be honest, most of our “New Year’s Resolutions” are exercises in futility because we never truly set out to accomplish anything worthwhile in our efforts. Some of you want to get fit, lose weight, procrastinate less, love more, spender more wisely, save a marriage or another relationship, and the list goes on. Please don’t misunderstand what I’m saying, these things are worth doing.  But our plans and goals and dreams of success are often sabotaged by our own inability to set a God-given purpose to the potential that lies within us. Focus is key. I see people who make a “New Year, New Me” goal to lose 10 pounds. They purchase a gym membership, treadmill, running shoes, blender bottle, protein powder, and a new set of earbuds to jam while running. Here’s the problem. While they set forth in motion a pattern for success, they didn’t change anything on the inside themselves in order to succeed.

A transformation must occur!

Read what Paul tells Roman believers in Romans 12:2, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Notice what Paul says! He tells us that our mind must be renewed. This not only means that we have to focus our attention and purpose our minds to accomplish our God-given purpose, but we are called to devote all of our being whom God made to do what He wants us to do. He has empowered the believer when He gave us His Holy Spirit. He placed Himself inside of us and He wants us to do something about it.

So here is the hard part. It could be that you have to abandon your dreams, aspirations, goals, ambitions, and desires for His calling on your life. It could be that what you want is only part of His greater purpose for your life. While I know that He gives you the desires of your heart, this only comes when you have delighted yourself in Him (Psalm 37:4-5). In other words, God wants you to be so in love with Him and wrapped up in His presence that your dreams are His dreams and your plans are His plans. Part of transformation is surrender. Waving the white flag for the grace, mercy, truth, hope, and joy of Christ to overtake your soul.

So where does the “New” come from?

^“Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” -2 Corinthians 5:17

Jesus brings the newness. How do I transform my life? How do I do big things with my life? Give up and let Jesus do it for you! Allow Him to lead your steps in His path for your journey. Trust in Christ’s grace and have faith in Jesus’ Truth. Know that you can have joy in the mercy and hope that awaits you on the other side of the start line of your journey to doing difficult things.

I’m going to leave you with a proud dad moment.

A few months ago, Christina (my gorgeous wife) and I took our 3 sons (along with Aunts, Uncles, and Grandparents) to their home away from home; the zoo. My wife and I love to listen as they run from animal to animal exhibit to share with everyone all that they know about the Lemurs, Bear, Lions, and Parrots. My oldest has always wanted to climb the rock wall, but his waiste has always been way too small to fit in the harness (imagine that!). This time, amidst the “Daddy Please!” begging, we found that he was finally big enough to climb the rock wall. Immediately a pit and funny feeling began to grow in my gut. “What if he fell, got hurt, or failed!?” But my tough-guy exterior won over my inner-wimp and he darted to the carabiner hook to begin his ascent. As the young girl (ever so patient she was) strapped him to the repelling rope, he flapped and jumped and giggled with excitement. (You see, he has autism and he gets to love life a little more that some of us get to.)  He was finally strapped in and off he went! He began climbing and soon learned that it was too hard. Two feet off the ground, my six year old couldn’t figure out what to do. Too scared to go up and unsure about letting the repelling rope do its job, he was frozen! His awesome uncle, amazing Papa, and I tried to coach him, but there he was between a synthetic rock and a hard place (dad jokes for days!).

I had an Idea! I asked the young lady if I could strap in and help, and she obliged! (this is a big deal because it had been years and dozens of pounds since I’d strapped in!) I got right beside my son, and along with me and his cool uncle, we began to climb. I set the pace and showed him what to do and my brother-in-law coached and pushed from the bottom. Slowly but surely, my son began to climb higher. He didn’t make it to the top, but the sense of accomplishment and joy that birthed the ear-wide smile on that little boys face will forever be etched into this Daddy’s mind.

God (the perfect Daddy) looks at me and you the same way! He wants to take us higher than we’ve ever gone. We just have to strap in and climb with Him, placing our hands and feet in the same footholds He has shown us. Where does the cool uncle fit in? I’m so glad we were both thinking that! He is the rest of us. Cheering you on, encouraging you, pushing you, believing in the you that God made.

Surrender to Christ’s transformational power. Follow His footsteps to greater heights. Trust His path for your journey. Encourage others. Do something hard.