Listening to the radio the other day I heard the song “Just Be Held” by Casting Crowns. I’ve heard it before but this part really stood out to me:

If your eyes are on the storm
You’ll wonder if I love you still
But if your eyes are on the cross
You’ll know I always have and always will

Wow! How simple but yet so profound.   When problems/trials come what is the first thing we tend to do?  We wonder about or even doubt Jesus’ love for us. We wonder if He has forgotten about us.  We feel all alone. All of these thoughts and feelings escalate and our storm becomes greater than it originally was.  Remember when Peter walked on water? (Matt. 14:22-33)  Jesus was there out in the storm and told Peter to come.  He stepped out and walked on the water toward Him.  But then what happened?  Peter took his eyes off Jesus and looked at the storm.  I can only imagine what went through his mind at the moment – the waves, the wind, the reality of what was happening.  He began to sink and Jesus saved him.  If he had only kept his eyes on Jesus and kept walking, would they have embraced and celebrated this miracle?  Maybe they would have beckoned for more to get out of the boat and do the same?

So how do we keep our eyes on the cross (Jesus)? We must KNOW that Jesus loves us.  So much that He died for us on that cross.  That was not just a onetime thing but an ongoing, every day, every minute thing.  He cares about us and what is going on in our lives.  We must trust His sovereignty and know that He is in the midst of our situation whether we think He is or not.  We will have trials and problems and they are meant to grow us in our faith – to make us mature and complete.  James 1: 2-4 says: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

So keep your head up, picture that cross and keep your eye on it.  I leave you with one more verse (emphasis mine): Hebrews 12:1-3 says:  ”Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.”