Those Pretty Little Things

 

From time past, they have been preached to be bad for personal growth, family and business. But are distractions always those things we should avoid? Agreed, staying focused always is the way to make a head and for obvious reasons, distractions could really be that dreadful one-eyed green monster – but not always! Sometimes, they could just be what we need - to escape some of the everyday conundrum life always throws at us. It could also be that perfect getaway we call for but just never realized it.

A perfect example of this happens to us more often than not; at least I’m a testifier! Let’s see, you’re really having this pretty awful day where it seems like you are just up against everything (I’m not the only one who’s been in this situation, I know), and out of nowhere there’s a telephone call from a friend who decides to break some really great news to you and somewhat cracks you up while at it. At the end, you’re left feeling pretty much “pumped” back to life and thankful to that friend for throwing you a lifeline.

Now, that might just have been a telephone call which could have come up any other day but choose the very moment you were about to sink into despair and confusion. That is a not coincidence…it is called distraction; and pretty good one!

Life is filled with questions and we always try so much to wrap our heads around the answers. And alas! some of these answers do not come in the best agreeable form but we just have to accept it and find the best way to move on. I admit dealing with situations where the solution seemingly is not in your power can be very hard. But here is what I have also found from my own life experience and has been therapeutic in some way to me.

The whole idea of life is that it is a gift to be enjoyed and we are supposed relish every moment of it. Now, not all moments call for a glass of wine -I know- but when the going gets tough, God always has the perfect plan to get us through.

Most times this plans are strategically distraction plans he uses to send us out of the impending situation and get us calm enough to go back and take on the state of affairs.

Amazingly, he does this in the most witty but simplistic way ever. While we are busy getting distracted by whatever it is that catches our attention, he either deals with the seeming evil or presents us with ways on how to deal with it after we have been returned to a stable state. These casual interruptions can come in several ways but most times it comes in ways that appeal most to us according to our individualities. It could be a funny moment just abruptly showing up, or been caught in the stunning array of a beautiful sunny day or just looking into the eyes of your loved ones and seeing nothing but love, support and acceptance. They could also come in the likes of an uniformed thought of a weekend getaway, holiday, seeing an old bosom friend, the list goes on but according to our appeal. These things seem simple and a bit ordinary but they are “out of the blue” therapies and way-outs, God uses to help us out.

The bible says that God reigns in the affairs of men. He is the creator of all things and has the perfect knowledge on how to navigate through life successfully (truth is that we all can…but with His help). The bible, in an astonishing detailing, describes who God is and all He is to us. One of His qualities, amongst other great things, is our ever-present help in time of need. Equipped with this knowledge (got to read your bible), He expects us to take advantage of it, run to him if we need help and also enjoy life to the fullness. After all, that is why Jesus Christ came to die and resurrect with a life filled with all God’s glory and protection.

In her book, Look Great, Feel Great,  Joyce Meyer quoted that God has not created us to function well without Him. A lot of times, many people are faced with challenges that quickly drains the life out of them; if only they had the knowledge of what they had in God, no problem could beat them up.

God never wants us to see anything or anyone as an unbeatable threat to who we are. So when things like that show up, he pulls us back and reaffirms us with who he is to us and thus who we are. He assures us that he is that caring father who is not going anywhere or will ever leave us alone…He does this most times through interrupting our days.

There have also been examples in the days of old where God changed the way of things just to make his people know that He is Almighty and with that knowledge they could conquer anything.

2 Chronicles 20: 1-29 seems like a pretty long verse but reveals a great account of how God changes the order of things just to keep his people grounded with the thought of who He is. In the story, the distraction was praise; simple heartfelt praise!

The people of Judah were suddenly awakened by the fear of losing their nation to three other nations that just merged up to fight them off their land because of their enormous prosperity. Their king, Jehoshaphat called together everyone and they cried to God in prayer. And God’s answer! “Praise me while you match to meet your enemy for war”…. What! Praise! Are you joking?

Furthermore, as they matched towards their enemy’s camp, He further made them move their soldiers to the back of the troop and bring to the frontline war-singers who did nothing but sing…Alleluia! What a God we serve!

Now that was crazy, you may think but ‘crazy’ was not the prevailing word when the King and his troop got to the camp of their “all-fierce enemies” in an arena of what should have been a launch of a massive attack – ‘Astonishing’ was the word! These threatening warlords were covered in the pool of their own blood having turned their weapons on themselves…Chillingly astonishing, huh!

Here is what happened:

While the Judeans were busy following the distraction plan of God by praising Him while matching into the camp of their opponents. God caused their enemies to slain themselves while teaching his people that he always got them covered. That was a great victory story and great lesson for a generations to come.

In the bible, we are promised that whenever we pray about anything God’s first answer is peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4: 6-7) and that peace would guard our heart. A calculated distraction helps us find peace. And with peace of mind, we can deal with any life’s conundrum. Prayer is always a good diversion from whatever we are facing. It consciously get God involved…and He loves it.

Praise is another powerful tool in this area. One thing, I’ve discovered about it is that it opens up our mind to God and enhances our ability to hear from him. Off course this is effectively achieved if our praise is heartfelt and true; not just something we try to see if it works. Read about God in His Word at the start of everyday and you will be moved to give him a truly deserving praise or worship at every dangling chance you get…it will pour from inside out. You need not worry about faking it.

Finally, distractions are good…so we’ve found out but they don’t always stare glaring at our face. This what I do to help me see what God wants me to do in a seemingly threatening situation and it works always…I just bow my head and say a silent prayer to the God bigger than whatever the challenge might be. Or I put my earphones on and listen to any good song and reassures of who the God I serve is. Tunes from the band, Hillsongs always does it for me here.  Once the peace comes, I know I can deal with it.

These welcome life interruptions are my pretty little things!!!

P.S. Thanks for reading…I’d love you to tell me just one of your pretty little things.