I have stepped away from many bone chilling events in my life. The kind where your blood turns ice-cold in your veins. Whether it was a bomb going off, a lion roaring a few feet from my face, or an elephant or rhino charging – these scary events do leave permanent imprints on the psyche.

Some people find it possible to regain their composure, but others get stuck. It all depends on your outlook. Do you look at life pessimistically or optimistically? In other words, do you look at life with fear or faith?

Imagine David walking out to deal with Goliath. How would you grade his outlook? Was he filled with negative fear or positive faith? Let us assume for a moment that he was filled with pessimism. His focus would have been on all the things the enemy wanted him to focus on: Goliath’s size; reputation; words; etc. But, because David was optimistically faith filled, we read: This day the LORD will deliver you into my hand, and I will strike you down and cut off your head… (1 Sam.17:46).

Satan’s job is to divert our focus from our Savior. Remember, whatever you focus on will expand. If we are focusing on fear filled media, (if it bleeds it leads), then we will eventually become incapacitated.

Imagine Jonathan talking to his armor bearer. I am curious to know if God will allow the two of us to defeat all of them. The actual text reads: 1 Samuel 14:6 (ESV) — 6 Jonathan said to the young man who carried his armor, “Come, let us go over to the garrison of these uncircumcised. It may be that the LORD will work for us, for nothing can hinder the LORD from saving by many or by few.” Again, how would you grade his outlook? Was he filled with negative fear or positive faith?

Imagine for a second that you are laying in a hospital bed, struggling to breathe, with a Covid-19 diagnosis. What will be your focus? Next to my bed, and constantly on my mind would be the promises of God. I would wear them out. I would not take my mind off them, even for a second. Here are a few scriptures I would be focusing on:

Matthew 11:28–29 (ESV) — 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.

Romans 8:37–39 (ESV) — 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor
powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.