Look Up!

This past year has been one of loss, hardship and uncertainty for our family. During this season, I have learned to yield, to trust, to seek and to find. I have learned to have hope in the face of adversity. The dictionary defines “hope” as a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. Over the last year, there were many days where I felt hopeless. I was looking at my life through foggy lenses, unable to see beyond my circumstances into the promises of the Lord for my life, and that of my family. I had lost my sense of expectancy.

Why am I discouraged?
Why is my heart so sad?
I will put my hope in God!
I will praise him again—
my Savior and my God! (Psalm 42:11 NLT)

It is difficult to stay in a place of hopeful expectation when everything around you is crumbling. Our family suffered two major losses this past year, and it threw me for a loop. At times, I was so consumed by my circumstances that I could not see that the Lord was near and wanted to help. Yet through it all, I kept hearing the voice of the Lord calling for me to “Look Up!” The Lord wanted to get my attention, to remind me that He was with me in this storm.

I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
² My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2)

How do I continue to have hope in the face of adversity? When everything around me appears to be crumbling before my eyes, how do I find the strength to look to the hills into the very face of hope? By fixing my eyes on Jesus, and not allowing myself to be swayed by circumstances. I must behold His beauty, tasting of His goodness, each and every day.

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

These days, I am purposing in my heart to look up, through the face of adversity, into the loving eyes of a God who is always good. Even when I face disappointments, God is there. He will help me to finish this race, clearing every hurdle along the way.