Look down the Road

1. Focus on Jesus Christ
2. Beware of distractions
3. We can be rescued

There is no discipleship without discipline.

The devil is the great distractor.

The adversary knows that distractions do not have to be evil to be effective.

The Savior came to the rescue of his disciples in the fourth watch of the night. We naturally wish for rescue in the first watch but we should not lose faith if it doesn’t come when we hope.

{On my first driving lesson, my father} said this: “I’m watching your eyes, and you are looking only at what is right in front of the hood of the car. If you look only at what is directly in front of you, you will never drive straight.” Then he emphasized, “Look down the road. That will help you drive straight.”

As a 15-year-old, I thought that was a good driving lesson. I have since realized that that was a great life lesson as well. Focusing on the things that are most important—especially those things “down the road,” those eternal things—is a key to maneuvering through this life.

Once again the message is, “where is your focus.”

Peter cried out to Jesus, “Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water.” Jesus replied with His familiar and timeless invitation: “Come.”

Peter, surely thrilled by the prospect, climbed out of the boat not into the water but onto the water. While he focused on the Savior, he could do the impossible, even walk on water. Initially, Peter was undeterred by the storm. But the “boisterous” wind eventually distracted him, and he lost his focus. The fear returned. Consequently, his faith diminished, and he began to sink. “He cried, saying, Lord, save me.” The Savior, who is always eager to save, reached out and lifted him up to safety.

• The first lesson: focus on Jesus Christ. While Peter kept his eyes focused on Jesus, he could walk on water. The storm, the waves, and the wind could not hinder him as long he centered his focus on the Savior.
• The second lesson: beware of distractions. When Peter turned his focus away from Jesus and toward the wind and the waves that whipped at his feet, he began to sink.
• The third lesson: we can be rescued. When Peter began to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretched forth his hand, and caught him.” When we find ourselves sinking, when we face affliction, or when we falter, we too can be rescued by Him.

Focusing on Christ requires discipline, especially about the small and simple spiritual habits that help us become better disciples. There is no discipleship without discipline.

The small things are the easiest to forget, they are really indicators of how focused we are.

Focusing on Christ can simplify our decisions and provide a guide for how we can best spend our time and resources.

As the saying goes, “The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.” The adversary seems determined to get good people to do nothing, or at least to waste their time on things that will distract them from their lofty purposes and goals. For example, some things that are healthy diversions in moderation can become unhealthy distractions without discipline. The adversary understands that distractions do not have to be bad or immoral to be effective.

This goes back to the principles of good, better, best.

In the face of affliction or trial, you may be like me and hope that the rescue will be immediate. But remember that the Savior came to the aid of the Apostles in the fourth watch of the night—after they had spent most of the night toiling in the storm. We may pray that if the help will not come immediately, it will at least come in the second watch or even the third watch of the proverbial night. When we must wait, rest assured that the Savior is always watching, ensuring that we will not have to endure more than we can bear. To those who are waiting in the fourth watch of the night, perhaps still in the midst of suffering, do not lose hope. Rescue always comes to the faithful, whether during mortality or in the eternities.

It is perfectly natural to hope for immediate rescue, there’s nothing wrong with that. The key is to have the maturity of faith to understand that immediate rescue may not be what we receive and to have patience when the rescue is not immediately or even shortly forthcoming.

Sometimes our sinking comes because of our mistakes and transgressions. If you find yourself sinking for those reasons, make the joyful choice to repent.