Growing up, I used to have these silly little headaches. I’m not sure why, but after school, almost every day in primary school, I’d come home and pop a paracetamol like it was part of my after-school snack. Eventually, my mom noticed and to be honest, I think I had become slightly addicted. Sometimes, I’d take it just in case the headache would come. Preventative vibes😅
My mother being my mother, promptly confiscated every single paracetamol in the house. From that day, her prescription changed:
“Drink water, think about Jesus and sleep. It will go.”
At first, I thought it was punishment. But that phrase became her anthem every time I complained of a headache. Sometimes she’d say,
“Forget about it. Don’t think about it. You’ll be fine.”
Or
“Think about Jesus.”
This used to really annoy me. I remember once as a teenager I said to her, “You don’t care about me. Every time I complain, you just say drink water and sleep or stop thinking about it. Think about Jesus.”
Mama, I am sorry Okk 😅
Don’t get me wrong, if I was seriously unwell, we went to the hospital. And it turns out a lot of those headaches were from eye strain. I used to break my glasses a lot. A story for another day 🤭
But here’s why I’m telling you this.
That phrase — drink water, think about Jesus and sleep — stuck with me. And even though I didn’t like it, it worked. Maybe not instantly, but eventually. Whenever I shifted my focus to something else, especially Jesus, the headache would ease up.
Years later, I was in church when my pastor shared a scripture from Romans 4:19 to 21. He talked about how Abraham, though his body was basically as good as dead, did not consider it. Instead, he held on to God’s promise.
And I had this aha moment.
That’s what my mother had been saying all along.
Here’s the thing. When we’re going through something, pain, confusion, heartbreak, disappointment, it’s so easy to be consumed by it. It becomes all we think about. It starts to define our days and occupy our thoughts. And without even realizing it, we push Jesus to the very back.
But the more we focus on the problem, the bigger it becomes. That’s the enemy’s playground. He’ll magnify it until it feels like the only thing in your life. But the truth is, God is infinitely bigger than whatever issue you’re facing. And He’s still doing other amazing things in your life. You just might not see them because your gaze is fixed elsewhere.
So maybe today’s reminder is simple.
Take your eyes off the headache.
Whatever that headache is for you — emotional, spiritual, physical — shift your focus.
Look to Jesus.
Forget the shame, the pain, the weight.
Forget what didn’t work out.
Forget the fear, the sin, the endless what-ifs.
Let your gaze be on Him and Him alone and watch everything else lose its grip.
“Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.” (1 Peter 5:7)
Consider Not the issue.
Consider Him.
His promise.
His faithfulness.
His love.
His word that cannot lie.
With love,
Jaziel 💜
Scriptures to Consider
Romans 4:19–21
“Without weakening in his faith, he faced the fact that his body was as good as dead—since he was about a hundred years old—and that Sarah’s womb was also dead. Yet he did not waver through unbelief regarding the promise of God, but was strengthened in his faith and gave glory to God, being fully persuaded that God had power to do what he had promised.”
1 Peter 5:7
“Cast all your burdens on him because he cares for you.”
Isaiah 26:3
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.”
Hebrews 12:1–2
“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. For the joy that was set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”
Philippians 4:6–7
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:8
“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”