- photo by Susan PageA woman shared her experience of a time when her father was extremely ill. She was looking for answers that the medical community could not provide. Even though she felt God’s Spirit telling her to rest in Him, fix her eyes on Him, seek Him, and trust Him, she could not stop looking for a solution.
It’s human nature to want to know the answer, to try to correct or control a situation and make it right. Often, we scroll through websites, spending hours aimlessly searching, all the while becoming more anxious as we pursue a quick remedy to our problem.
Problems come in a mix of shapes and sizes. When the world goes haywire, political unrest erupts, a pandemic breaks out, and rumours of war occur, where can we find answers or at least a measure of peace and calm amidst the chaos?
We could watch a favourite newscast, read online blogs, or listen to a podcast to gain insight. Perhaps we rely on great theologians, pastors, world leaders, or our favourite authors as the ultimate source of truth. I’m not advocating that there isn’t good value in these choices; I’m simply raising the question, “Where does our help ultimately come from?”
Our help is in the name of the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth as the Psalmist David declared in Psalm 124:8.
When facing life’s most difficult challenges, there are a variety of voices we can listen to and choices we can make. I have been as guilty as anyone of getting caught up in the scrolling habit of the internet and newsfeed. I am convinced there are choices and voices which are not God’s best for us. Hearing and learning from Jesus through His Holy Spirit is the only way to find true answers and inner peace.
There was a time in my life when I was desperately seeking answers. I saw a Christian counsellor who gave a measure of advice that spiritually speaking, was completely off base. We must use wisdom and discernment when listening to anyone other than our Lord.
As I mature, I feel like the layers are slowly being peeled away from my eyes, like the translucent tissue-thin skin found on an onion. I am learning that we can adapt to the worldly viewpoint, or the opinions voiced by Christian brothers or sisters, which do not always align with the truth of God’s Word. In absorbing these opinions, values, and philosophies, we can be swept up in a stream we have no business swimming in. Many who say they are Christ-followers are spewing out manufactured ideologies with poisonous judgment. I do not see this type of behaviour modelled in the life of Jesus.
In the book of Hebrews, we are counselled to fix our eyes on Jesus (Hebrews 12:1-3).
This passage is full of godly wisdom. We are told not to get entangled in sin. We are encouraged to run the race with perseverance and not grow weary or lose heart. Yes, we will endure opposition. Isn’t that what Jesus did, to the point of death on the cross? Remember the remarkable words spoken as He hung suffering on that wooden beam, “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” We are to forgive as our Saviour modelled.
The Psalmist tells us to seek God with all our heart and not to stray (get side-tracked) from His commands (Psalm 119: 10-16). What did Jesus say were the two most important commandments? “Love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength, and the second is equally important, to love our neighbour as ourselves.”
To Love! To do this we must have God’s Word hidden in the very core of our being so that we will not sin against Him or others. Instead of getting caught up in pointless arguments, let’s lean in and learn from Jesus, fixing our eyes on Him by studying the truth of God’s Word.
Lord, how we need You. Open our eyes so that we may see the error of our ways. Forgive us as we forgive others. May we delight in the truth of Your way as we meditate on Your Word. Increase our strength when we grow weary. Give us unclouded vision as we fix our eyes on You.
“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 pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before Him He endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider Him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart” (Hebrews 12: 1-3).
“I seek You with all my heart; do not let me stray from Your commands. I have hidden Your word in my heart that I might not sin against You. Praise be to You, Lord; teach me Your decrees. With my lips I recount all the laws that come from Your mouth. I rejoice in following Your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways. I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your word” (Ps 119: 10-16).
Susan Page is the daughter of the King, His beloved child, wonderfully forgiven and blessed! Susan longs to age gracefully, becoming more like Jesus as she seeks the hidden treasures revealed to her through Scripture, literature, the arts, humankind, and nature.