Eyes on Jesus

by: Melanie Moore

Before my son's soccer game this evening, I noticed something on the field which revealed much about my own heart. As each team took the field to begin their warmups, the opposing team seemed to have a much larger and stronger team. I watched as several of the boys from our team turned their attention from our coach to instead focus on what the opposing team was doing during warmups. From my seat on the sideline, I could see their eyes grow larger as they noticed the strength of the other players. Occasionally, they would whisper to one another as they watched, and immediately their confidence seemed to fade. 

During this whole time, the coach was trying to get their attention in order for our team to complete our warmup drills. Although he was speaking loudly and clearly to our players, his words were drowned out by the distraction of the perceived strength of the opposing team.

As I noticed this taking place, it struck me that this is how I often face obstacles in my own life. I will often become so focused on the problems and challenges around me that they become all-consuming. Even though God is trying to speak to me, loudly and clearly, I don't even hear or recognize His voice due to my focus being misaligned. 

In Hebrews, God tells us to run with endurance the race that is set before us while we keep our eyes on Jesus. Our focus must continually be upon Him rather than upon the challenges and difficulties which surround us. 

"Therefore, since we also have such a large cloud of witnesses surrounding us,
let us lay aside every weight and the sin that so easily ensnares us.
Let us run with endurance the race that lies before us, 
keeping our eyes on Jesus, the source and perfecter of our faith,
who for the joy that lay before Him endured a cross and despised the shame 
and has sat down at the right hand of God’s throne."
Hebrews 12:1-2

Especially in times of discouragement and trials, we must all continue to keep our eyes focused on Jesus. How do we do that? By spending time with Him through prayer, Bible reading, and stillness. Often, when circumstances in my life seem to spiral out of control, I will try to fix them all by myself. Normally, this ends up in me making an even bigger mess of things. However, if we will take time to pause before God and ask Him to help us know Him more in the middle of our circumstances, He will be faithful to care for us and give us instruction to help us through.

If you are going through a hard time right now, I encourage you to keep your eyes firmly focused upon the Lord. I also would love to pray with and for you. Please leave a comment below with your prayer needs or just an anonymous request for prayer if you would prefer. May God give us strength and endurance to run the race before us as we fix our eyes on Him.