“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” Matthew 6:21
Our focus is what we see. Where we spend our time and efforts will be our product. That scripture goes on to read:
“The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light.”
It would be easy to only see the negative right now, and sometimes I fall into that trap. I find myself putting my time, thoughts and effort on the bad or difficult things in the world. COVID can be depressing. Finances can be depressing. Stresses in certain relationships can be depressing. Our country’s political mess can be depressing. The world can be depressing.
I can choose to see and focus on all of the negative things and let that fear enslave me. Or I can choose to see the situations, recognize them, but put my focus on the hope and freedom beyond them. This is what I try to do. I’m not perfect. Like I said, sometimes I find myself in the focus slump and have to drag myself out. But here’s what I have noticed works for staying focused on the positive. It’s all about preparation.
“If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.”
This has been told of us from many sources. Recently it has been reemphasized over and over again by our prophet and other disciples of Jesus Christ. As I ponder its meaning in my personal life, I realize that its truth counters all of the fear that focusing on the negative in my life brings. For example, if I am in a focus slump by seeing the negative of the world and COVID, the counter of preparation would be to read the General Conference talks from Oct. 2020. They talk of hope specific to our world right now. They lift and encourage. Studying the examples of the societies in the Book of Mormon helps to realize that we are not alone in our situations; that others and more importantly, our Heavenly Father, have navigated these types of turbulent times before. It is not new and unknown territory. A third preparation, that is true for all situations in life, is to prepare in prayer. Stay close to the Lord. Know His love. Let Him be your best friend. Confide in Him your concerns. He will flood you with His love and safety and hope. I know this. I can promise you this. If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.
If I am in a focus slump with finances, wondering how in the world I am going to make ends meet, when the math just isn’t adding up, I recognize that I have prepared for this with savings and faith. It’s not what I want to do with my money, but it is exactly why it is there. We have been counseled to put away for hard times. Those hard times might come in different shapes and forms for everybody, but we have been told they will come. Being prepared in faith refers believing in God’s promises made to me in my Patriarchal blessing. I believe. He says that I will be okay, so I believe that I will be. If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.
If I am in a focus slump with relationships, again, I prepare with faith. I believe the Lord’s promises. I believe it is my job to prepare myself to be the best me I can be. That is my part. The Lord will take care of the rest. That means I try to be the best mother I can be, the best employee that I can be, the best friend that I can be. The best daughter of God that I can be. The Lord loves effort and always recognizes any effort you put forth. If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.
“Fear not, little children, for you are mine, and I have overcome the world, and you are of them that my Father hath given me; and none of them that my Father hath given me shall be lost.” D&C 50:41-42
He loves YOU! You are His. Believe this. In this is hope, safety and freedom from fear. If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.
Forever grateful for His loving guidance!
