Lift up your eyes

 Scripture: Isa 40:26 (NASB)

Lift up your eyes on high

And see who has created these stars,

The One who leads forth their host by number,

He calls them all by name;

Because of the greatness of His might and the strength of His power,

Not one of them is missing.

 

The recent journey I have been on has been one of discovery, frustration, and well… uncertainty. What I have found is that my gaze has dropped. Physically, I would walk and with my eyes to the ground. Like I didn’t want to face the world. I guess it is the same spiritually as well.

In the dwelling of my thoughts – problems or otherwise, I started to be reflective and well… inward focus. This isn’t bad. Contrary I think it is good to be reflective. But prolong dwelling on one’s own problem leads to issues. I found myself drawn into an “ocean of self-consuming thoughts”, and that isn’t a good thing, leading to a sea of negative thinking.

In trying to find a way out, I start to dig through the Bible, and interestingly… This phase “Lift up your eyes…” appears often as I read through the book. Throughout the different passage, God uses this phrase to encourage the person to lift their eyes and look around in the midst of their pondering.

Learning this. There is not only a change of posture but of mindset. It is interesting that a change of physical posture change alters the way we approach our thoughts. What the Bible attaches to the phrase isn't just the act of lifting our eyes, but we need to look around and see. To see the world around us, not only to be caught up in our own thoughts. How has it helped? I am not a psychologist, this is just experience talking. But for me, my poor little brain can only take so much thinking and like all muscles, it needs a rest. In lifting my eyes and seeing the world around me changes perspective, allows my brain to have a break about my "things".  

We looking around beyond just ourselves and our own world to see the great things adds a different perspective to the way I see things. The constant focus on my own thoughts and problems is draining. In the words of Elisa from Frozen, “LET IT GOOOO! LET IT GOOOO!” Okay, that is enough of my squeaky voice. We need to have a break from our problems and when we see the people and circumstances around us, we understand there are so many other things we need to consider. There are people and resource that can help us. The Creator of the heavens and the Earth is there in the midst of our situation to help.

What I noticed is that, sometimes the hurt/problem becomes a security blanket. It is OUR reason for who we are? But it isn’t. God has called us to change and grow. The question for us is that, are we willing to let go and accept the change? Will we lift up our eyes and see that our HELP has come? We need to choose to accept the help. What I have always found interesting, is the way Jesus approaches the healing of the blind. (Mark 10:51-52) He actually asked them, what is it they want? I would have thought it was obvious but yet there is the question. I think the person needs to accept the change which would happen after the healing. So we too, need to accept the change that will occur. Be brave. Have courage. The change He brings is for the good. 

So if you are struggling, lift up your eyes and ask Jesus to open your heart.