"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" ~ Letting go

In the last several months, I have been embraced with life altering circumstances that captured my mind and time. One of which, was watching my mom's last battle with Alzheimer's disease. She didn't lose the battle... she won! Mom is at rest in heaven. But she's not just in heaven, she is with her savior, Jesus Christ. Her last request she uttered was, "I want to see my Christ." She gracefully left this world leaving us a beautiful picture of her gazing upon Jesus face. There is a hymn I love to sing...

"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."

Although the grief was gripping, one constant became evident -- God's sovereign grace. He was faithful to get me though some of toughest months of my life. The emotions and fears were so much a reality that I would cry out, "Oh God please... please get me though this." My hope was in His faithfulness from the past and from His promises in the Bible. What else did I have? I couldn't rely on my own to get through it. No one could fix it for me. I had to trust, pray, and be faithful to God. It was difficult but necessary.

When there is that moment you think, "I don't know if I can take one more thing," stop and pray. Not very profound, right? Or is it?

Prayer is hope. It's turning your eyes on Jesus. I know that if I didn't stop and pray at every moment something was wrong or emotional, I would have gone into a rage of fear or depression. The minute my prayers were lifted, I had begun to let go to the God who's grace had brought me salvation. I had a hope in the One who knew my inner fears and insecurities -- Hope He could also save me from this. He gave me a peace in the raging storm. Oh, how I wish you could know Jesus in this way. I can't tell you I was always happy but I can say I had a joy in Him. There is a difference between having happiness in your circumstances and joy in the Lord through your circumstances. How? Life is unpredictable... God is constant. You can trust God and He will always be there with you. He knows...

"Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the sham, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." ~ Hebrews 12:2 (NKJV)

I'm not sure what tomorrow will bring but God does. Pray to Him -- tell Him your pain and fears. Let go and receive the joy in knowing He is in control. It kept me stable and got me though to the other side. You may be in the midst of it right now. Don't just take my word for it, do it for yourself. Turn your eyes upon Jesus now and He will make the trouble dim. Have hope that you will be gazing upon His face in heaven one day just like my mom is doing right now.

"Lord, hear my prayer; let my cry for help come before you. Do not hide your face from me in my day of trouble." ~ Psalm 102:1-2 (HCSB)

I let it go to you, Amen

© Carol Outhous Jones 2014