Turn your eyes upon Jesus…
I’m tired. Sad. Disheartened.
Sometimes, no matter how blessed we may feel, sorrow and fear creep in. We live in a world that is filled with God’s wonders, yet mankind’s dark side is evident daily, whether we read about it in the newspaper, see it on television, or live next door to it.
No matter how happy in God we are, we are all touched by sadness. No matter how strong our faith, we are riddled with fears.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if accepting Christ into your life meant things got easy? That suddenly you were protected in a bubble of God’s love from the hurt that fills this world? But it isn’t that way. We have to exist in this world, with all it’s pain and suffering.
I have a friend who tonight is staring potential death in the face. Not her own death, but that of her nine month old baby. I have another friend who has lost everything– home, car, business — to the ravages of the economy. And yet another friend who is in the midst of a painful divorce.
But all three have something in common… their love of God, and their belief that He will care for them in their lowest moments.
I look at each of them and wonder how they can survive the heartache. Each has reached the breaking point several times. Yet at each step of the way, God cradles them in His love, and they feel it. They hurt, they are broken.
They are loved.
Life with our God on this earth doesn’t protect us from evil, from hurt. But it does assure us that this world is only temporary. Our “forever home” awaits us, where all this junk we deal with every day will be over, done, forgotten.
One of my favorite songs is Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus. This old hymn so eloquently speaks of the darkness that descends, yet reminds us to turn our eyes to Him, and this will all fade away. The light of God turns away all darkness.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:5 we read:
You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
The better day is coming!
Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
Words and Music by Helen H. Lemmel, 1922
O soul are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Saviour,
And life more abundant and free:
Chorus:
Turn you eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over us sin no more hath dominion
For more than conqu’rors we are!
Chorus
His word shall not fail you He promised;
Believe Him and all will be well.
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Chorus
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