Steve Gaines

“Just keep looking and you will see it, Dad.” My son was looking at a picture in a novelty shop that looked like a chaotic confusion of colors to me. Yet as I continued to gaze into the print, sure enough, images began to emerge. At first I couldn’t see them, but after I looked for awhile, there really were dinosaurs galore in all of that disorder.

Sometimes life seems to be little more than a frenzied mess. The clouds of trouble hide the light of God’s presence and we lose sight of all that He is doing in our lives. Like driving in the fog, we can barely see far enough ahead to make progress. Those are the times we need to do what Hebrews 12:2 says: to fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.

At first we may not see Him. But if we continue to cast our gaze toward Him instead of our problems, suddenly He appears in grace and glory. He manifests His presence and power and completely changes our perspective. He replaces fear with peace, hope, and assurance.

Jesus victoriously endured the cross by gazing in faith at the promised glory of His resurrection and ascension to the Father’s side. We, too, can endure hardships “for the joy set before (us)” if we focus our attention on the Lord rather than on our problems. When we look at the waves of circumstances we sink. But when we fix our eyes on Jesus, we can walk on turbulent waters (Matthew 14:29-31).

Today you may believe and sing the hymn that lovingly says, “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.”