Look straight ahead, and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet; stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked … Set your gaze on the path before you. With fixed purpose, looking straight ahead, ignore life’s distractions. Watch where you’re going! Stick to the path … Keep your eyes straight ahead; ignore all sideshow distractions. Watch your step, and the road will stretch out smooth before you. Look neither right nor left … (Proverbs 4:25-27 {NLT, TPT, MSG})
Have you ever wondered at the precision with which undesirable or unforeseen situations come knocking at your door, usually at the most inopportune times (such as the moment you set yourself to do something noteworthy either in the short or long term)? They come in all shapes and sizes, and in various packages and conveyances. They may show up as an unwelcome intrusion as you and your spouse sit down to dinner during date-night, or as a well-timed phone call the instant you determine to pray, or as a mouth-watering invitation to your favorite restaurant the day you had set aside to fast, or as a high paying job with amazing benefits and bonus potential after God has sent you on a mission to a poverty-stricken nation, or as friendly and attractive colleague of the opposite sex during a rocky season of your marriage, or as whopping medical bill arriving just as you were about to pay off that debt, or as a sullen and rebellious teenager causing all sorts of trouble and ruckus in your home, or as letter of eviction right after you got laid off, or as a life-threatening diagnosis at the peak of your career and success, or as a car accident which totals your car the day after your insurance expires … the list is endless.
We are well-underway into this year’s race, having reset ourselves to run with the aim and efficiency for winning; and positioning to train like a champ for each phase. In an ideal world, we would all run at full velocity, maintaining momentum and getting to the finish line victoriously without a glitch. There would be no interruptions, hitches or other things that could trip us up and slow us down; it would be smooth sailing all the way …
Not so. Unfortunately, the byproduct of living in a fallen world is the occasional (or more) bumps and challenges we encounter in our life’s journey. One of Job’s Negative Neiman friends (Eliaphaz) said it most succinctly, “… a person is born for trouble as surely as sparks fly up {from a fire}.”1 While I am not a proponent of the “woe-is-me” life approach, proposing the opposite “don’t worry, be happy” mindset is unrealistic and downright untruthful if one is honest. Realistically acknowledging the existence of challenges while arming oneself with a conquering mindset seems to be the best stance. We should indeed not worry and espouse happiness, but adequate preparation stretches the latter beyond the temporary and circumstantial feelings of happiness to a deep and abiding joy which is independent of the external. A positive approach grounded in pragmatism seems best in arming for life’s undesirable eventualities.
Before we proceed, we should define a few key words within the context in which they will be used (Google’s English dictionary {Oxford Languages} definitions):
Traction:
- The action of drawing or pulling something over a surface, especially a road or track
- The grip of a tire on a road or a wheel on a rail
- The support, interest, focus, momentum, etc., that is needed for something to succeed or make progress.
- (An) action(s) that move(s) us towards what we really want
Distraction:
- Something that prevents someone from giving full attention to something else
- Extreme agitation of the mind or emotions
- (An) action(s) that move(s) us away from what we really want
Retraction:
- The action of drawing something back or back in
- Withdrawal of a statement, accusation or undertaking
The Law of Attraction
… and a large crowd from Galilee followed. When they heard about all He was doing, many people came to Him from Judea, Jerusalem, Idumea, and the regions across the Jordan and around Tyre and Sidon … But soon a fierce storm came up. High waves were breaking into the boat, and it began to fill with water. (Mark 3:7-8; 4:37)
Just as certain as honey attracts flies, a determination to accomplish or advance in any noteworthy or potentially revolutionary venture will attract all kinds of interesting people and things. Physics demonstrates this by the law of attraction, where the molecular movements in magnets create a magnetic force around each pole, causing opposite magnetic poles to attract each other, while negative poles repel one another. In the bigger science of life, opposites do indeed attract, but most annoyingly so as it relates to this subtopic.
There appear to be three distinct types of gravitators (or counteractions, as I call them) that are irresistibly drawn to a determination to accomplish anything noteworthy (simple or elaborate, consequential or inconsequential, temporal or permanent). These counteractions have been nicknamed conveyors, surveyors, or purveyors, the latter two of which may be of the cheering or non-cheering type. For this discussion, conveyors are material or immaterial things that transport or communicate situations or information. Examples are phone calls, snail or electronic mail, bathroom breaks, forces of nature (e.g., stormy weather), ailments, etc. Conveyors are inherently non-partisan carriers whose only involvement with the subject is to deliver the message. They are of themselves impassive, non-human articles or occurrences that are neither for nor against you.
Surveyors and purveyors are human agents on a mission. They may have a message to deliver (directly or indirectly), and are usually unashamedly biased in favor of or against you. Surveyors may be content to observe quietly from the sidelines or may adopt a “volunteer commentator” role or narrative about you as you progress in your venture. Purveyors try to (often forcefully) take the stage to promote their views and superimpose them on others. They are self-appointed promoters of the antithesis of what you purport to accomplish or promote. You may perceive these naysayers as highly irritating thorns-in-the flesh, but they are often stimulants of creativity and great catalysts to destiny dreams and goals. They unwittingly provide the kind of friction necessary to discover and create exceptional value, such as that produced in the process of pearl formation.2-3
Physics also purports that friction is caused by interactions between uneven surfaces of two objects as they rub against each other. Each surface exerts a force in the opposite direction of the other, thereby producing resistance to the motion of the other. This resistance is not a bad thing. With automobile tires, it leads to better traction i.e., the greater the surface area between the tire and the road (all things being equal and other factors like tire tread, pressure, etc., properly accounted for), the greater the friction created, which in turn leads to better traction. Friction is thus a requirement for maintaining good traction, which guarantees momentum and forward motion, ultimately leading to arrival at the desired destination (i.e., achieving superlative results).
The crux of the matter? Regardless of the effort, journey, sport, intention, invention, intervention, or innovation, an unintended, uninvited audience is always guaranteed. We must learn to value and appreciate both kinds. Followers of Jesus have the distinct advantage of being backed by an immeasurable arena full of innumerable cheerleaders, albeit in the unseen realm,5 in addition to the earthly surveyors who join forces with them. Cheerleaders will overtly encourage one’s confidence and progress; naysayers will provide the friction necessary to spur you on against all odds, stimulating exponential results by the incendiary irritation and determination they elicit – so embrace them!
The Subtle Trap of Distraction
… But Martha was distracted with much serving … Jesus reprimanded them, “Why are you gripped with fear? Where is your faith? (Luke 10:40; Matthew 8:25-26)
Distraction is a tricky thing. It is often unobtrusive, at least initially. The distracted person is unaware they are veering off-track until there is a glaring loss of time or other precious asset. It is not uncommon to find it camouflaged as a frazzled person frantically searching for solutions to a problem. As one blogger states, “ … distraction has a sneaky way of tricking us. At any given moment, it becomes hard to tell whether we are moving towards or away from the very things we need to accomplish … 4
It did not occur to me until recently that challenges are actually a clever disguise for distraction. Previously, I viewed them as an inevitable fact of life to be contested and conquered. A recent Word encounter brought the realization that satan really tries to leverage on them for reasons other than to aggravate or frustrate God’s beloved people. His added motive in stirring up adversity is so they can become distractions, with the ultimate aim of total derailment in one’s immediate or long term goals. Conversely, God leverages the challenges satan throws at His people to effect strength training, quality assurance, and destiny alignment in them; equipping them with the tools to triumph over every difficulty (note the use of the word leverage; He does not usually orchestrate challenges except in situations of overt rebellion, disobedience, or as attention-commanding experiences, such as when He organized interesting “adventures” for Jonah, from the belly of a whale to plant-eating worms and sun-scorching exposure. Then there was the three-day blindness bonanza specially arranged for the blood-thirsty, vitriol-spewing Saul – after he suffered a publicly displayed “humble tumble” from his high horse … {yes, literally!}).
In essence, life’s challenges outside of special circumstances from God are intended from satan to distract and derail us from destiny. Initially, this may seem like an overestimation or “spiritualization” of a natural consequence of life, but a behind-the-scenes examination of the Scriptures suggest otherwise. Take for instance the narrative of the challenges described in the book of Job, or of those that arose from Jesus’ innocuous statement of intent to cross the sea in Mark 4:35. In the latter instance, that singular statement attracted a fierce, potentially boat-sinking storm. Beyond that, the ensuing panic among the disciples caused them to forget His definitive statement about crossing to the other side. Jesus had not suggested that they cross over; He did not question the possibility of it, nor was He even pondering it. He spoke it, and once that happened, like all of God’s creative works, it was a done deal and not up for debate. The terror generated among the disciples points to the clear intent to distract from their original goal. When they succumbed to that fear, they lost their focus, began to veer off course in their utterances, and would likely have been derailed in destiny (a.k.a. “dead“) had Jesus not been with them.
Although turbulent storms are commonplace, I strongly suspect that this storm originated from a realm beyond the meteorological. It was likely spiritually engineered, fully intended to sink the boat and its passengers, Jesus being the chief target. Why? The after-story reveals the deliverance, emancipation, and ensuing commission of a man who had been severely subjugated to demon spirits for years and went on to become a renowned evangelist and influencer in ten cities 9the Decapolis). It was reportedly the only region of Jesus’ ministry where the inhabitants were predominantly non-Jewish. I believe this dramatically transformed man was sent to finish what Jesus had started in the area – as an emissary and living testament to the power of God and to the fact that Jesus was His Representative and Son. Where John the Baptist was Jesus’ forerunner to the Jews, this newly rescued gentleman was an after-runner and by-product of God’s love and grace, sent to do the same as John, but in his case, after the fact of Jesus’ arrival.
Were Job’s challenges and this cross-over storm happenstance circumstances of life? I don’t think so …
Superior & Opposite Reactions
The rain fell, the torrents raged, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because its foundation was on the rock … Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace,be still!” And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. (Matthew 7:25; Mark 4:39)
How should we react to life’s challenging distractions? When the storms of debilitating or life-threatening sicknesses, family troubles, career constraints, financial losses or limitations, and other destabilizing influences come knocking at our door, how do we face off with them without succumbing to their forceful demands for focus and attention and more importantly, how do we retain the full ability to maintain traction in life, our goals and our walk with God? How do we pull back on and from those things that seek to obscure our view of God’s glorious life and promises?
Mental feathers may ruffle and brows furrow as physics and other science buffs contemplate this subtitle. I totally understand that in the absence of clarifying commentary. Feathers and brows aside, we must recall that Newton’s third law of motion is exactly that – a law of motion, not a universally applicable principle for all life circumstances, especially those with non-particulate characteristics. It exhibits exceptions even when it relates to matter and motion. That is, however, another topic for another day and beyond the scope of today’s discussion. Simply stated, God’s superior laws for superior living found in His superior manual (a.k.a. the Bible) demonstrate and equip with superior and opposite reactions to those which would otherwise occur where those superior principles are not applied or regarded. Please let me explain …
Building Contraptions
… His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through the knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence. … “Now I’m turning you over to God, our marvelous God whose gracious Word can build you up into what He wants you to be and give you everything you could possibly need in this community of holy friends.” (2 Peter 1:3; Acts 20:32)
Like any great coach, God has given us access to various tools and contraptions to help us anticipate, navigate, obliterate, negate, and sometimes obviate life’s distractions masquerading as challenges. He does this primarily through the treasure trove of His Word, which, as stated previously, has been given to us as a manual for superior living. It contains the vast will and estate He has carefully prepared and bequeathed to us,5-10 the conditions under which that immense wealth can be accessed, deployed, and maintained,11-12 and all the equipment and tools necessary to maximize those benefits and ensure their durability and perpetual legacy.13-14 This priceless treasure of His Word not only grants access15-17 to our inheritance in its multifaceted dimensions, but it is also the doorway18 through which we encounter His person, presence, principles, purposes, and prophecies.19-23
The Art of Retraction
… walk a straight path. Then lame people will be healed, instead of getting worse. … When I took a long, careful look …, I got my feet back on the trail You blazed. (Hebrews 12:13; Psalms 119:59)
Our definitions of traction, distraction and retraction are sufficiently self-explanatory to warrant little discourse in this regard. Suffice it to say that avoiding the derailments of distractions or regaining traction requires well-developed skills of spiritual and mental agility and the life-long ability to sustain equilibrium. Simply put, the secret to maintaining or regaining traction (i.e. retraction) lies in the singularity of our focus.
God’s Word contains the treasure trove of our inheritance and is all we need to get to the other side of any storm of life. Excavating its rich contents should be a daily habit, and the truths uncovered should have our unwavering focus. Technologically speaking, the bulk of our daily screen time should be invested in Word-time, which we will examine more telescopically in the coming weeks.
The following Scriptures grant insight into the primary ways we access the practical strategies needed to sustain traction or to get back on track.
2 Corinthians 4:18 – So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.
Proverbs 4:20-27 – My child, pay attention to what I say, Listen carefully to my words. Don’t lose sight of them. Let them penetrate deep into your heart, for they bring life to those who find them,
and healing to their whole body. Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life. Avoid all perverse talk;
stay away from corrupt speech. Look straight ahead,
and fix your eyes on what lies before you. Mark out a straight path for your feet;
stay on the safe path. Don’t get sidetracked …
Colossians 3:1-2 – Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Focus your thinking on the things of heaven, not merely about the things of earth …
Heb 12:2 – … keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting Him, He endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now He is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.
Philippians 4:8 – … Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and paise-worthy.
1 Peter 5:8-9 – Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of like-minded believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.
Philippians 3:12-13 – I don’t mean to say that I have already achieved these things or that I have already reached perfection. But I press on to possess that perfection for which Christ Jesus first possessed me. 13 No, dear brothers and sisters, I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.
For questions on how to know God personally, grow in love and in your relationship with Him, or for any other inquiries, please email: [email protected]
For Your Listening, Tracking & Retracting Pleasure
Hail Yahweh (David Dam)
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=NBTanBt-uqg&si=n9Duk97lNi1m9OGy
I Will Stay (Dunsin Oyekan)
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=-oMdFkU5Z9c&si=XdWsXNJG5UPse_is
I’m Going to Wait on You (Mav City/Elevation)
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=K3TYG7Q_fj4&si=154OPCgxiyy-87aR
Consuming Fire (Jesus Image)
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=DeHWWK3Vmnk&si=r7HclkTDvlxUcZYj
Hide Me In Your Secret Place (1 Spirit/Theophilus Sunday)
https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=WRpMyO8u1lM&si=DuplDhkqBrDSOdM5
References
- Job 5:7
- How Pearls Form and Which Species Make Them. ThoughtCo., August 28, 2019. Retrieved from https://www.thoughtco.com/how-do-pearls-form-2291787. Accessed on February 23, 2024.
- How Are Pearls Made? The Pearl Source, 2024. Retrieved from: https://www.thepearlsource.com/facts-about-pearls/how-are-pearls-made.php#:~:text=How%20are%20Pearls%20Made%3F,-So%2C%20pearls%20come%20from. Accessed on February 23, 2024.
- Eyal, Nir. Knowing the Difference between “Traction” and “Distraction” will Change Your Life This Year. Medium, December 23, 2020. Retrieved from https://nireyal.medium.com/knowing-the-difference-between-traction-and-distraction-will-change-your-life-this-year-dc085e7a6a21#:~:text=Traction%20is%20an%20action%20that,to%20accomplish%20in%20our%20day. Accessed on February 24, 2024.
- Hebrews 12:1; 22-24
- Ephesians 1:11-21
- Col 1:12-14
- Galatians 3:8-9; 29
- Psalms 37:11; 29/Matthew 5:5
- Psalms 16:5-6
- 1 Peter 1:3-5
- 2 Timothy 3:15-17
- Proverbs 6:20-24
- 2 Peter 1:3-4
- Acts 20:32
- 1 Peter 1:23
- Ephesians 2:8,11-19
- Romans 5:1-2
- Psalms 119:130
- John 1:12-14; 18
- 1 Corinthians 2:10-12
- Hebrews 1:1-3
- 2 Corinthians 4:6