Focus on God
When we are going through a rough patch it is really easy to focus on all the negativity that surrounds us. The smallest thing can push us over the edge. In fact, sometimes we go out of our way to look for the bad because then we can just add it to our list of why our lives suck. Complaining is fun. It's great when we can keeping ranting on and on because feeding the fire is exciting. But, feeding the fire doesn't get us anywhere, it just makes the situation worse.
Up until recently I was never someone that found the joy in the hard times. I only noticed good things when they were staring at me in the face. However, through time and huge amounts of advice from different individuals, I am now able to see the good in the bad, well actually the God in the bad.
It's easy to see the negative. It doesn't take a PhD to know when something isn't going too well, but it does take a conscious effort to see the blessings. We have to CHOOSE to focus on the blessings that surround us, the blessings that God has placed in our lives and throughout our days. They are there, I promise you. Sometimes they just take a little digging.
Seeing the good in our lives becomes easier when we keep God at the top of our priorities. "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal." 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 We need to remember that when we are suffering it won't last forever. Nothing does. God is the only thing that is infinite, and that should be a comfort for us all.
While there is bound to be struggle, negativity, disappointment, pain ( you name it, we all have it) in our lives, it is up to us to decide if we let it affect us or not. It is up to us to choose to focus on God. When we focus on God everything falls into place. Don't believe me? Just try.
