Where's your focus at?

Over the last while I've picked up on something among some of my Christian friends that has got me asking where are they putting their focus when things get tough, as well as when they are away from their connect group/mentor/church community when things get tough. Prayer requests get sent out asking that we pray they resist temptation, Facebook chats have similar requests and have statements of, "I feel far away from God because I'm not meeting with other Christians", Facebook status imply the same thing. After noticing this for a couple of months now I started wondering where are these people looking? To God when they are faced with temptation, or life is a bit stormy or if they are looking to other Christians.

I think that it is important for fellowship, doing life together, building each other up and loving and caring for people and being loved in return  which comes with being apart of a community. I also think that it is very important to be apart of a community where you can learn how to love, be loved and to be built up. We are called to be apart of a community Hebrews 10:25 "Not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near." God wants us to meet with other Christians, to share with them, be encourage and to encourage others, but he also wants us to lean into him when things get tough. 

Matthew 11:28 says "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." This is Jesus telling us that he is the one to look to when we are burdened and he will give the rest that you need. Yes, your friends and community can encourage you but you need to lean into God and trust that he will see you through this, he will give you the ability to face the temptation. It says in 1 Corinthians 10:13 "No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind and God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." I've experienced this in my own walk with God, when I've been tempted to give into the feelings of despair when life is tough or when something seems better but is so wrong and I've chosen to look to God, he has been faithful in helping me out and also giving me the peace that is needed in the situation.


In conclusion... I think it's important to be open and vulnerable with your community, to ask them for prayer and encouragement when you're struggling but you also need to look to God, you need to rest in him and trust that he will help you resist all temptations, to bring  you joy and to sustain you.

Your community can only build you up, encourage you and pray for you.. God can bring you what you need in the situation.

Kx