The tried and true way of mowing or planting in a straight line is to pick out a distant reference point and head toward it. My dad taught me this also works well if you need to use your compass to find your way out of the woods. To go North, see where your compass is pointing then pick out a tree in that direction and walk toward it. You might have to climb over logs, or skirt around a water hole, but keep that tree in sight until you reach it. Repeat this process with another landmark in the direction you need to go, and eventually you’ll find your way out. The obstacles are still in your way, but they’ll be more in your peripheral vision as you focus on the marker up ahead.
The Christian life is like a path we walk; the Bible even calls it “the Way” (Acts 9:2). On this journey there will always be obstacles and pitfalls–some of our own making and some from outside forces.
In Psalm 86, David records his distress over a gang of violent people who wanted to kill him (v. 14). But before David asks for God’s help and strength (vv. 16-17), he shows us his real focus was concentrated on the perfections of God: “But You, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness” (v. 15).
It would be natural for David to lose his bearings with his life in danger. Yet his direction was set by concentrating more on the God in front of him than on the trouble around him. Let us not center on our obstacles (or even our prayers for help), but focus on our gracious God straight ahead.
