Change Your Focus

Author: Anna Popescu

Not too long ago, I received yet another rejection letter. I sighed and tossed this rejection onto my desk while I contemplated its significance. What was God trying to teach me with this particular disappointment?

As a writer, I've received my share of these "thanks but no thanks" letters. One of the first things I've learned is that I need to take the bad with the good. Rejection is just as much a part of the life of a writer as the writing process itself. Yet even though I am aware of it, this particular rejection still stung.

This writing project had been a huge undertaking for me. For nearly a year, I diligently worked on it, researched the subject in great detail, and conducted extensive interviews. During all aspects of this project—preparation, research, and writing—many people prayed for me and this project.

Whenever I write, I pray for what to write, how to express those thoughts in writing, and which publishers I should submit my work to. Throughout all the work on this project, I felt confident I was headed down the right path.

I continued to pray as I prepared the proposal for this project, and again as I drove to the post office. Lord, please guide this proposal into the right hands!

Several weeks later, as I held the rejection letter in my hands, I thought, "Had I not prayed enough? Did I go off on a tangent? Did I incorrectly interpret a potential market for my project? Did I get ahead of the Lord's timing for this project? What should I do with the work now?"

As I struggled with these thoughts, I prayed for guidance. God, what should I do? Was I wrong about this project? Should I even be writing at all? How can I know Your will for me in this?

The very next morning, I was surprised and excited to read a notice that one of my articles had been published online that very day! To me, this was an unexpected confirmation of my writing and a real answer to my prayers. You see, the article in question was not supposed to be published until the following week.

The day before, I had been wondering if I was even supposed to be writing and the next day God graciously provided the answer.

As I hastened to share this good news with my husband, I ruefully laughed at the ironic turn of events because my article that day was about trusting in God who takes care of us so well—sometimes in spite of ourselves.

"But I trust in you, O LORD; I say,
'You are my God. My times are in your hands.'"
(Psalm 31:14-15a, NIV)

As I meditated upon Psalm 31:14-15a, the Lord revealed something significant to me. I used to pray about a project and then quickly undertake the task with a childlike eagerness. What I learned was that I wasn't taking time to meditate. I wasn't waiting on God. I simply jumped right in. It became obvious that I was focusing on what I wanted to do instead of what God wanted of me.

I could see that this was a hindrance to my writing, but how could I change the pattern? Did I really believe that "my times are in [His] hands?"

It finally became obvious to me that all God wants is for me to change my focus from myself to Him.

When I focus on the Lord and His will for my life, many things suddenly become clearer. It is not an overnight thing, but I've found that the closer I walk with the Lord, the more I know His desires for me.

Today my focus is on God. I ask Him to show me His priorities each day. It's God who gave me this talent, so it's my joyful responsibility to seek God's wisdom before I try to share His message with others. When I do, He will take care of the rest.

The next time you're struggling with a decision, seek God's guidance and then step aside so He can steer you in the right direction. Sometimes the door He closes leaves us puzzled because we were so sure that's the way He wanted us to proceed. However, if we quiet ourselves long enough to really listen to Him speak to us—deep in our hearts—we'll find He has opened a window of opportunity in an entirely different direction. Let's learn to focus on Him as we follow His lead.