“You, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.”
Psalm 3:3 ESV
Anytime I hear a young mom say, “Look at me, just look at me,” to calm, comfort, or focus her fussy or misbehaving little one, I flash back to days long gone. When my two sons were little guys, and one was having a moment, they, too, would look anywhere but directly at my face.
Often, the head was bowed, and eyes closed or fixed on the ground during frustration, upset, anger, hurt, or guilt.
And like today’s young mommas, I would say, “Look at me.” Then I would lift his little chin to get him to look directly at my face.
I knew if his eyes were focused on me, I had his attention. If he was looking into my eyes, I knew he was listening to me. And he knew I was listening to him. Once we were focused on each other, we could move forward.
In those situations, comforting hugs, calming fears, words of instruction, reproof and discipline, and refocusing in happier directions, and accompanying reassurances of love could all be lovingly dispensed, and they would be eagerly welcomed.
But none of those things could happen until my little guy looked me in the face. I could go through the motions, hug until I was blue in the face, and say all the right words, but until my son looked directly at me with his big blue eyes, I didn’t have the attention of his little mind or heart.
Have you ever had a time when you were so overwhelmed by a situation, and pain so raw it penetrated your bones—a time that it felt like you had been laid flat by a boxer’s glove? Most of us have probably experienced that at least once.
You desperately needed guidance and comfort. Maybe your heart longed for reassurances of forgiveness, restoration, and hope. But you were so buried by the desperation of your circumstances or the load of shame you carried that you could not raise your head.
In that moment, if you allow Him, Jesus will step into your despair and misery to lift your head, so that you can see His face and hear His voice. He may do it through the Holy Spirit speaking a Scripture to your mind and heart. He may lift you through another believer who brings words of love and healing to your ears. However, Jesus chooses to lift your spirit and speak life, healing, and hope into your heart, He wants your eyes focused on Him. He wants your full attention.
Jesus wants you to turn yourself and your situation over to Him completely.
During my growing-up years, there was a song that was often sung in church, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.” Written in 1918 by Helen Howarth Lemmel, the song has been sung by congregations as a worship hymn and by gospel artists ever since. You don’t hear it often these days, but its message is timeless. Here are the words to the first verse and chorus:
“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free.(Chorus)
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.
I’ve loved this song since I first heard it as a child. But I’d never heard the story behind the song until a short time ago.
Helen Howarth Lemmel, a gifted musician and lyricist, wrote “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” during a dark period in her life. Helen was in her early 40’s when she met and married her husband while she was in a 4-year intensive music program in Germany. They returned to the U.S., where she continued to write and teach Christian songs and hymns to music ministers and churches.
Shortly after returning, Helen became desperately ill and, as a result, lost her eyesight. Her husband, unwilling to care for a blind wife, walked out on her. It was during this time of betrayal, pain, and loss—loss of her husband and loss of her vision—that she penned these words: *
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.
Whatever our circumstances. Whatever has caused us pain, heartache, and suffering. Whatever has laid us out flat on the floor, unable to raise our heads. God knows. Jesus cares: He is the lifter of our heads.
Look Jesus full in the face—eyes meeting eyes, your heart open to His. See your situation through His eyes, and you will find that “the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace.”
How, you ask? Jesus is the Living Word (John 1:1-5). Go to Scripture, His eyes and His heart are on every page. Meet Jesus there.
Listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit to speak quietly to your heart as you read and meditate on God’s Word. He will point you to the Savior—and shine a light on Jesus’s loving face.
Child of God, know that you are loved. You are in your Savior’s heart and held in His mighty hands.
Jesus says, “Look at Me.”
“Those who look to Him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed.” Psalm 34:5 ESV
*Micah Hendry, Posted in Hymns, https://enjoyingthejourney.org/hymn-history-turn-your-eyes-upon-jesus/