Student Leadership 201: FocusSample

Focus In The Middle Of Your Struggle

Part of what made Paul so powerful was not just his ability to make the most of every season and opportunity, but his ability to stay focused in the middle of his struggles. 

And Paul had a lot of struggles. In 2 Corinthians 11, he wrote about being beaten, stoned, shipwrecked three times (because apparently once wasn’t enough), imprisoned, and going to bed cold and hungry. Oh, and he also got bit by a snake. Paul was clearly no stranger to suffering. 

But it was Paul who wrote these words in Romans 8...

For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us. 

Paul’s focus was so sharp that he was able to keep one eye on opportunity and one eye on eternity — even in the middle of great difficulty. 

When we go through struggles, the first thing we often lose is our perspective. We lose sight of the opportunities around us and the hope ahead of us. When we’re hurting, it’s easy to stop focusing on our purpose and start dwelling on our pain. 

What we focus on gets magnified though, for better or worse. So, if you’re focused on your problems you’ll watch them multiply, but if you’re focused on the good you’ll see that grow too! 

Paul was constantly channeling his worries into worship and he challenged his friends to do the same. 

“Keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always.” Philippians 4:8 (TPT)

Paul was able to stay focused on his calling — despite suffering and setbacks — because his thoughts were fixed on the work of God. He didn’t let what he couldn’t control control him. 

What struggles are blinding you to God’s work in you and around you? How can you begin focusing on what God has for you in the middle of your problems? What worries do you need to transform into worship?