Anyone who has ever spent any time on the audio/video production side of worship has experienced numerous times where things go wrong: technology glitches, software updates, cords quit working, the signal goes out randomly… These things come with the territory and you learn how to roll with them.

I’ve had plenty of “bad” things happen during a worship service, but today something happened that I have never experienced — a complete power outage during the middle of service.

One minute we were rocking along, having a great Sunday, and the next… BOOM!

BLACKOUT.

The moment this happened, two options went through my mind:

  1. Pack it up and go home early
  2. Stay focused, stay on mission, and preach Jesus to the people!

I’m so glad that I decided to go with the latter. We kept right on going, and God kept right on working in His people – IT WAS A GREAT DAY.

Distractions happen in life. One minute you’ve got your plan, you’ve set your focus, and you’re starting down a good path. Then suddenly… BOOM! 

Distraction. 

Something happens that throws you completely off course. You become preoccupied by a new problem or situation. Instead of focusing on your good path, all you can think about is this new issue. Before you know it, you forgot what you were doing in the first place.

It happens. 

Life is full of distractions.

So what can we do about that? How can we expect the unexpected? How can we possibly prepare for such things?

One of the things we can do is set ourselves on the missions and callings that God has given us, regardless of the circumstances. We can decide to focus on Christ no matter what is going on in the world around us. We can decide to be people committed to God in all things. We can be people who keep our eyes fixed on Christ.

The Bible is full of people who decided to set themselves on God’s mission, despite the circumstances: Abraham, Rachel, Moses, Gideon, Esther, David, and so many others!

When things try to distract us from God or throw us off His mission, let us recall the words in Hebrews 12:1-2, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.” (ESV)

Distractions are part of life, but you can make the decision to overcome the distractions.

Keep your eyes set on Christ.

May God richly bless you in His Son, 

Dr. Aaron George Glover