Dear Rose Park,
Do you know the hymn “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” ? If you don’t, the chorus goes like this: “turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will go strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace.” As some of you know, my dad passed away last week. My relationship with my dad was not perfect by any stretch. Perhaps I’ll tell you that story over coffee some time, but needless to say his death was yet another reminder of how fragile life can be. Whether it be through the death of a family member, the loss of a job, or the chaos of a global pandemic the words of “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus” serve as a strong and sure foothold in a season of uncertainty and anxiety.
Here’s what I mean: even though so much is closed and so much has been cancelled, there is still so much going on. Perhaps it’s the season of life Sam and I are in, but our days are as busy as ever. Between reading books, coloring cards, shaping and cleaning up Play-Doh, playing outside, writing with chalk on the driveway, and trying to balance naps with two little ones, there isn’t a lot of free time or space. Without the rhythm of communal worship it is so tempting to not only feel anxious in the busyness of life but also distant from the work of the Holy Spirit. But maybe this is just my family.
If it isn’t though, and you can attest to this feeling, I want to offer you a simple practice to become more connected with God throughout the day. Practice a simple breath prayer. As you inhale, simply say, “I thank You, Lord” and as you exhale, simply say, “I trust You, Lord.” If you practice this breath prayer for one-minute, not only will this calm any sense of anxiety, but it will also bring your heart’s attention to the glory and grace of Jesus.
When we remain consistently grounded in Christ, the things of earth will go strangely dim. Meaning, all the other voices, fears, anxieties, and distractions will become blurred and move towards the fringe of our gaze while our eyes will be drawn to the light of Jesus shining through the darkness. This is all to say, in this season of busyness, uncertainty and anxiety, may your eyes turn to Jesus regularly throughout the day, may you look full in His wonderful face, and may the things of earth go strangely dim as your eyes are drawn to His glory and grace.
Grace & Peace,
Pastor Mark