Keeping Our Eyes on Jesus

“Just have faith. Hold on a little longer. Things will get better.”

But what if they don’t? What if we're praying for a loved one to be healed but they aren’t? What if we fight fear and worry for days and days, maybe even years? What if we lose our job and don't know what do to next? What if, in the midst of the battle, we feel like all hope is gone and there’s no reason to keep going?

I don’t have the answers.

When someone I love is going through hard times, I want to help fix the problem and take away the pain, but I can’t. I can’t be their hope, even more so when I’m struggling with the same thing. All I know is to hold on to Jesus. When nothing else will help, all we can do is keep our eyes in Jesus.

He promises that he’s going finish what He started.

“And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.” - Philippians‬ ‭1‬:‭6‬ ‭

He promises to never leave us.

“for he has said, 'I will never leave you nor forsake you'.”- Hebrews‬ ‭13‬:‭5‬b

He promises that His love is never ending.

“I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have continued my faithfulness to you.”

- Jeremiah‬ ‭31‬:‭3b

He promises peace.

“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” - John‬ ‭14‬:‭27‬ ‭

It’s hard for me to not get frustrated when people tell me to just believe in God and things will get better. Especially when I'm deep in that pit and feel like there is no possible way out. But in one way, they are right, things can get better when I put my trust in God. It doesn’t mean my situation will change. My perspective can change though and that helps me get through the difficulty a little easier.

“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”- John‬ ‭16‬:‭33‬

It’s interesting to note that in the same verse that He promises peace, Jesus also promises hardships. It's not a promise we like to think about. We want to focus on the blessings that come with living with and for Jesus. But we can't ignore the possibility of hard times and also be surprised when they come.

Sometimes the only way to deal with a hardship is to go through it. Sometimes the ache inside will hurt too much to do anything but weep. And that’s okay. Jesus wept.

Often, in those difficult moments, I want someone who understands what I’m going through. I want someone to empathize with me, who can comfort me. But the longer I live life, the more I realize that other people cannot fill that void inside me. Only God can.

The peace Jesus mentions, in John 16:33, doesn’t come from people, money, entertainment, and anything else in this world. True, lasting peace, a peace not based on circumstances, can ONLY come from our King Jesus, our Heavenly Father, and the Holy Spirit.