Posted on by jwlozano

Get Higher

As I was reading in Luke 19, I came across the story of Zacchaeus. Most of us know the story. Zacchaeus wanted to see Jesus, but there was a problem. The Bible tells us that he was a short man, and because of the crowd, he could not see over the people around him.

So what did he do?

He ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree so that he could see Jesus.

As I read that passage, I couldn’t help but think about how often this happens in our own lives. Sometimes there are things standing between us and a clear view of Jesus. Sometimes it is stress. Sometimes it is busyness. Sometimes it is fear, disappointment, distractions, or simply the demands of everyday life.

The reality is that when we stay down in the middle of it all, it can be difficult to see what God is doing.

Zacchaeus recognized that if he wanted a better view, he needed to get higher.

That reminded me of our recent trip to Hawaii. We hiked the Diamond Head Crater Trail on Oahu, starting at the base of the crater and making our way to the top. The climb was not easy. There were steep sections, uneven ground, narrow pathways, tunnels, and what felt like countless stairs. At times, all you could see was the next step in front of you.

But as we climbed higher, something changed.

The higher we went, the more clearly we could see. What was hidden at the bottom became visible from above. The view at the top was absolutely breathtaking. We could see the ocean, the coastline, and so much more than we ever could from where we started.

Life can be like that.

When we are stuck in the middle of our circumstances, it can be hard to understand what God is doing. We may not see how things could possibly work out. We may not see the purpose behind the struggle.

Yet Romans 8:28 reminds us that God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

The challenge is that we do not always see that when we are standing at ground level.

Sometimes we need to climb higher.

For me, one of the ways I do that is by protecting my time with the Lord each morning. Before I start my workout, before I eat breakfast, before I dive into my to do list, I grab my coffee and spend time with God. I read His Word. I pray for my family and friends. I talk to Him about the day ahead and the things weighing on my heart.

That time helps lift my perspective above the noise of everyday life. It helps me see things through His eyes instead of my own.

What about you?

What might you need to climb above in order to see Jesus more clearly?

Maybe it is worry.

Maybe it is distraction.

Maybe it is a packed schedule that leaves little room for God.

Whatever it is, be encouraged today. Like Zacchaeus, make the choice to get higher. Position yourself where you can see Jesus clearly. The view is always better from above.

To listen to encouraging messages to build your faith and strengthen your walk with Jesus, head over to my YouTube channel! Link below

Posted on by jwlozano

Grace for the Race

Last week, I wrote about running our own race and staying focused on the path God has marked out for us. But during that same 10K race, something happened that stayed with me long after I crossed the finish line.

As I was running, I saw a woman walking in the opposite direction, crying.

I don’t know her story. Maybe she got hurt. Maybe she realized the distance was more than she expected. I truly don’t know the details, and this is in no way meant to shame her.

But seeing her walk away from the course made me think about how easy it can be in life to feel like turning around and giving up.

Sometimes life feels overwhelming. Sometimes we hit seasons where we think, “I don’t know if I can keep doing this.”

Maybe it’s your finances.
Maybe it’s your marriage.
Maybe it’s parenting, ministry, work, or just the weight of life itself.

Paul encouraged believers over and over again to keep going. In Galatians 6:9 he writes:

“So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.”

I love that verse because it acknowledges something important:
Sometimes you will feel tired.

But tired doesn’t always mean it’s time to quit.

One thing I love about races is that all throughout the course there are water stations. And it always amazes me how they seem to appear at exactly the right moment, right when you feel like you really need one.

When you’re running, stopping briefly at a water station doesn’t mean you failed the race. It doesn’t mean you quit. It simply means you needed to refresh yourself so you could keep going.

And I think Jesus is that for us.

Jesus said:

“Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Sometimes what we need is not to give up.
Sometimes we simply need rest.
We need to pause, regroup, pray, worship, breathe, and spend time in the presence of God.

The goal isn’t to push ourselves until we completely fall apart. The goal is to stay in the race.

2 Peter 1:3 reminds us that God has given us everything we need for life and godliness. That means whatever season we are facing, God will provide the strength, grace, wisdom, and endurance we need to keep moving forward.

So if you’re tired, rest.
If you’re weary, go to Jesus.
If you’re discouraged, pause at the water station.

But don’t give up mid-race.

Posted on by jwlozano

Make it Enough

There’s a popular movie from the 90s, the best decade ever, with a scene where the main character’s mom sends him to the store. He looks at the money she gave him and complains that it isn’t enough for what she asked him to buy. She looks at him and simply says, “Make it enough.”

Have you ever felt like what you have just isn’t enough?

I was reading in Matthew 14:13 about when Jesus feeds the five thousand, and it led me to a simple but honest question.

I am not even talking about finances necessarily. Maybe you feel like you do not have enough time in the day to do the things you would like to do. Maybe you feel like you do not have enough energy to do the things you need to do. Or maybe you feel like you do not have the capacity to serve the way you want to serve. You are doing the best you can, you are doing what you can, but it still feels like it is not enough.

As I was reading this story, it really encouraged me. There were large crowds that had come out to see Jesus, and they were hungry. The disciples even encouraged Jesus to send the people away so they could go into the villages and find food for themselves. But Jesus responded in Matthew 14:16, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.”

This story is told in all four Gospels. In one account, a disciple finds a little boy with a small lunch. In Matthew, when Jesus tells them to feed the people, they respond in Matthew 14:17, “We have here only five loaves and two fish.”

They were stating a fact. What they had was not enough.

And that is often where we stop. We see the facts, and we feel defeated.

But Jesus did not stop at the facts. He gave them instructions.

First, He said to bring what they had to Him. When we feel like we do not have enough, what we do have needs to be placed in Jesus’ hands. I think about waking up in the morning and saying, “Lord, I have things I want to do today. Maybe I did not sleep well, maybe I feel tired, but I give this day to You.”

Then Jesus had the people sit down on the grass. He created order. He made a plan.

If you feel like you do not have enough, that may be true, but it is not the end of the story. Look at what you do have and give it to the Lord, then take a moment to organize. What actually needs to be done today? Maybe instead of trying to do twenty things, you only need to focus on three. Jesus paused and brought structure before the miracle.

Finally, Jesus took the loaves and the fish, looked up to heaven, and blessed them. He gave thanks for what was already in His hands.

That is a reminder for us to thank God for what we do have and trust Him to make it enough.

Matthew 14:20 says, “They all ate and were satisfied, and they took up twelve baskets full of the fragments that remained.”

Because the disciples were obedient in giving what they had to Jesus, it became more than enough.

If you are in a season where you feel like what you have is not enough, I want to encourage you to give it to Jesus.

He will make it enough.