Keep Your Eyes on Jesus

…let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus,  the author and perfecter of faith…

Hebrews 12:1-2

Many years have passed since I learned this lesson personally, but I’ll never forget it!  My husband had been diagnosed with a blood disorder and had been hospitalized for a total of six weeks for surgery and other treatment.  Our two children were young at the time, and there was no assurance of a favorable outcome from the medical staff. 

I was attending a weekly Bible study at the time.  In the midst of all the concern about my husband’s health, our car broke down three times while he was in the hospital.  Each time, God provided someone to fix what was wrong.  The third time it broke down, I was on my way to Bible study.  I contacted the leader to let her know I wouldn’t be there.  Instead, she sent someone to come and pick me up.  My plan was to leave the car on the side of the road indefinitely.  I’d had enough!!  The Bible study leader told me that God was stretching my faith.  I told her that if I showed up the following week in two pieces, she would realize I had been stretched too far!  She assured me that God wouldn’t let that happen. 

I identified with Peter at that time.  As long as I was keeping my eyes on Jesus and the promises of His faithfulness, His provision, and His constant presence, I could “walk on water” above the circumstances.  But as soon as my focus shifted to all the uncertainties and difficulties, I “started to sink.”

I love reading the story of Peter in Matthew 14:22-33.  It was Jesus who told the disciples to get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side of the lake.  This happened right after His miracle of feeding the 5,000.  Jesus had sent the crowds away and had gone up to the mountain by Himself to pray.  In the fourth watch of the night (3:00-6:00 a.m.) Jesus came walking on the water toward the boat. The disciples were terrified and cried out in fear, thinking they were seeing a ghost!  Jesus said, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” 

Peter said, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.”  Jesus said, “Come.” And Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.  But seeing the wind and the waves, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!”  Immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him.  And when they were in the boat, the wind stopped.  All those in the boat worshiped Him, saying, “You are certainly “God’s Son!”

Don’t you admire Peter’s faith which was strong enough to step out of the boat onto the waves?  As long as His eyes were on Jesus, he was walking on water!  Hebrews 12:1-2 says the Lord is the author and perfecter of our faith.  He does allow difficult circumstances in our lives, but He will use them to strengthen our faith and draw us closer to Himself.

What an encouragement to be assured that Jesus knows exactly where we are and what we are going through.  At all times! And no matter what the circumstances. He is there with us.  Nothing is impossible with Him.

 We have an enemy, Satan, who wants us to focus on the difficult circumstances around us and just give in to fear and despair.  It’s important to remember that we have a choice.  We can remain terrified and in despair, or we can listen to the voice of the One who calls us to keep our eyes on Him and trust His deliverance.

I encourage you to find the lyrics to the song online by Casting Crowns called The Voice of Truth.  It speaks of the desire for the kind of courage it takes to step out of our comfort zone into the crashing waves where Jesus is.  The last line of the song says “I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth.”

PERSONAL REFLECTION

Are you in a storm of crashing waves in your life right now?  Can you hear Jesus calling out to you to come to Him in trust that He can calm that storm?

Or maybe you know someone who is experiencing extreme difficulties.  Please pray for them and encourage them to hear Jesus’ voice of truth, that He is with them and will faithfully provide what they need.

What are some of the ways you can choose to keep your eyes on Jesus?