“I lift up my eyes to you,
to you who sit enthroned in heaven.”
Psalm 123:1 NIV
What are we to do when our world no longer makes sense? What are those who follow Jesus to do? I believe an old refrain holds the key:
Turn your 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.
A while back, I had the sweet privilege of serving women in my area as a leader for a community Bible study. Before we’d meet every Thursday, our leadership team began by singing this familiar chorus.
Tendering our hearts in song was effective. The things of earth — never-ending to-do lists, work deadlines, disagreements among friends, challenges with children, arguments with a spouse, health concerns, financial pressures, the clatter of politics, even some of our anxieties and feeling not enough — grow strangely dim. Our worries wither under the blaze of God’s glory.
When we focus on Jesus instead of circumstances, our circumstances may not change, but we sure do.
I know what it’s like to wander around and feel lost, to wrestle in a sea of doubt, to question beliefs you once held dear. And while I don’t know what’s going on with you personally, I know all of us are affected by what’s going on in the world.
How can we possibly handle it? We can’t. We aren’t even supposed to — that’s why we have a Savior! Isn’t that liberating?
Let’s remind one another that the gospel is good news. When we are mindful of who God is and what He has accomplished in our lives and in our world… When we trust that He is good and loves us without condition.. When we study His Word, claim His promises, and accept the forgiveness He offers… When we believe that He holds the whole world in His hands… When we turn our eyes upon Jesus…
We will find peace.
To me, focusing on Jesus isn’t just one way we can best handle a world that feels crazy. It’s the only way.
Written by Robin Dance, as published in 100 Days of Strength in Any Struggle
A much needed reminder for me today.
Amen! You know how the old saying goes, “don’t forget to stop and smell the roses”? So true, when we stop and remember all He has done before, now, and will – a beautiful reminder – Jesus is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.
Have a blessed day.
AMEN \0/
Thank you very much! I needed this reminder and encouragement today! God’s blessings to you all!
Dear Robin………………….This was just the right devotion for the start of the weekend. All of us here at this Senior Facility, are all very concerned about how the world seems to be topsy-turvey that we can’t even keep up with all that is happening and we fear that something awful could happen, but that is where your devotion takes a hold of ourselves and I love the way you ended it. I will remember it always. Focusing on Jesus is not just one way to handle a crazy world. IT IS THE ONLY WAY !! So I have already said a prayer to Jesus and we all should do that. Thank you so much Robin for your wise words and I am going through The 100 days of Strength in Any Struggle for the third time and it is always interesting to see what I wrote in the journal area the last 2 times. Very different and shows how much this book has helped my spiritual growth to get even more than before. Best Wishes to you………Betsy Basile
Dear Robin, I love your words: “Our worries wither under the blaze of God’s glory.
When we focus on Jesus instead of circumstances, our circumstances may not change, but we sure do.” Thank you for this beautiful reminder today! God bless, Tracy
Thank you Robin! With all of the evil going on in our world it’s very difficult to keep our peace. I love the song! Keeping our eyes upon Jesus is the only way to peace. God bless you!
This is a song I have sung to all my babies as I nursed them and rocked them to sleep. They’re words that helped this mama heart, and now that they are growing up, they are words helping them! May we turn our eyes on Jesus!
I agree 100%! Every time I think ‘all is calm!’ Something or someone upsets that notion!!! I can’t even watch TV any more – it’s just depressing! Fear mongering, finger pointing, lies and more lies! No thank you – I would rather walk my dogs, crochet or sew! Jesus is with me in that calm – every day!
(but also the people of the Bible were supposed to Do Things about the things that they *could* do something about, and I think we are too, when we see brutality and injustice done and particularly done in the name of Christianity?)(that being a note of the NT, that Christians are responsible for what’s done within the church; I think one of the biggest church failures of the 20th century was the majority of the visible German church cooperating with the holocaust; although there were some who resisted, they were a tiny fraction)(and I do not know what to do with murder and brutality being done in the name of American Christianity)
(but also, yes! Christ is the judge of all who oppress the widow and orphan and alien among us, and Christ is the true healer, and Christ is where our future will be vested if we remain in Him)(but also remaining isn’t just ticking a box and saying, ‘well, that’s done’ and then ignoring what God says? It’s grace, and faith, but faith involves some measure of obedience or at least *attempts* at obedience with things like loving God, which Christ said was the first and greatest commandment, and the second is like it: love your neighbor as yourself; all the rest of the law hangs on these two commandments. If you really believe it’s going to rain, you do different things than if you don’t believe it?)
(but still, Christ. And mercy.)(but I can’t get the images from the South Shore Chicago apartment building out of my head, and I’m not sure I *ought* to)
Robin,
Worry does nothing but cause stress & health issues. The best thing we can do is put our focus back on Christ. Taking our eyes off the world & praying to Jesus. Putting our burdens on Him & He will give us rest. I know this works. My hubby is worried about work. He wants to quit. That makes me a bit anxious. I tell him God will make a way. Then I send prayers to him. That reminds me to refocus upward toward Jesus.
Blessings 🙂
Great thoughts…thank you! I also love this chorus….I need to remember it daily.
Blessings for your day.