Looking Upward

Cherub face marred by fury, Chelsea stamped her tiny feet and bawled out her frustration. “My binky!” Soft toddler curls flew as her tear-filled brown eyes darted to and fro looking for the missing soother. Throwing herself to the floor, she continued screaming for the object of her affection.

If Chelsea had simply raised her head to her daddy standing across the room, she would have noticed her precious pacifier right there in his hand.

How often have I fretted, fussed, and fumed over a difficulty in my life? Gnawed on the problem with flawed human reasoning? Rehearsed one solution after another until confusion addled my logic? Essentially, flopped on the floor in complete meltdown?

I’m reluctant to even hazard a guess.

In Genesis, Abraham is told by God to sacrifice his son—his promised son—whom he loved. Fortunately, Abraham didn’t throw a tantrum. The Bible says he obediently bound Isaac on the altar and prepared to kill him. That’s when an angel interrupted him. Only then did Abraham look up.

Then Abraham looked up and saw a ram caught by its horns in a thicket. So he took the ram and sacrificed it as a burnt offering in place of his son. Abraham named the place Yahweh-Yireh (which means “the Lord will provide”). To this day, people still use that name as a proverb: “On the mountain of the Lord it will be provided.” (Genesis 22:13-14 NLT)

I cannot help but imagine the inner turmoil Abraham felt as he raised the blade over his son. But when he lifted his eyes, he perceived God’s provision. A ram, God’s substitute for Isaac, was caught in the nearby thicket.

This episode in Abraham’s life was but one of many difficulties he endured. Our experiences differ from his, but there’s no doubt human lives are fraught with troubles. They begin early and usually grow in intensity as we mature. Jesus, Himself, predicted many trials and sorrows here on earth (John 16:33b NLT).

This blog is dedicated to raising our sights, both yours and mine, together. The topics we discuss will be based on everyday life, but we will lift our focus beyond the temporal to see God surrounding it all. Indeed, God is present in every circumstance—from the mundane to the catastrophic. He gives all we need for godly living. But we must help one another look up and perceive Him.

[Jesus said] So when all these things [troubling events] begin to happen, stand and look up, for your salvation is near! (Luke 21:28 NLT, emphasis added)

Apply It:

How might troubled times be easier if I were able to raise my gaze?

Consider this excerpt from What a Friend We Have in Jesus by Joseph M. Scriven, 1855:

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
Oh, what needless pain we bear,
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer!

What role does prayer play in looking up to see God’s provision? Are there any other habits that help?

I welcome your insights. Please comment below.