Lift Your Eyes

Then they seized him and led him away, bringing him into the high priest's house, and Peter was following at a distance. And when they had kindled a fire in the middle of the courtyard and sat down together, Peter sat down among them. Then a servant girl, seeing him as he sat in the light and looking closely at him, said, “This man also was with him.” But he denied it, saying, “Woman, I do not know him.” And a little later someone else saw him and said, “You also are one of them.” But Peter said, “Man, I am not.” And after an interval of about an hour still another insisted, saying, “Certainly this man also was with him, for he too is a Galilean.” But Peter said, “Man, I do not know what you are talking about.” And immediately, while he was still speaking, the rooster crowed. And the Lord turned and looked at Peter. And Peter remembered the saying of the Lord, how he had said to him, “Before the rooster crows today, you will deny me three times.” And he went out and wept bitterly.  (Luke 22:54-62 ESV)

"He went out and wept bitterly." I cannot imagine how distraught Peter must have been; talk about a dark night of the soul! It's hard to believe anything good can come out of such a dark and difficult place. Peter had heard everything Jesus promised - as have we! - but in that terrible place of despair and loss, I doubt Peter could think about those promises, much less believe them.

Aren't we the same way? When things are so hard, feel so hopeless and our faith is at its lowest point, it can be so hard to believe God's promises of new life - of resurrection glory. We, like Peter, can't see what God sees; we can't see 3 days in the future, much less 3 minutes! All we know is the darkness of the now, of this moment, and it doesn't feel like it's ever going to get any better. Have you ever felt like this: "I'm stuck in this miserable situation and how can anything get better?" "Where is God when I need him the most?" "Why me?"

Why NOT me? Look at Jesus' sufferings; are we better than the Son of God? Are we exempt from the hardships that life in this fallen world brings? So, what about God's promises?

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.  (Isaiah 43:2 ESV)

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.  (John 10:10 ESV)

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 ESV)

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.  (Psalm 23 ESV)

We are not promised a life free of suffering. What we ARE promised is the presence of a loving, compassionate Savior who will never leave us or forsake us, who is working in us and through us to transform, mold, heal, save and deliver us, providing us with his strength when he have none, his joy when ours is lost, his peace in the midst of our worries and anxieties, and his promise that his death and resurrection weren't wasted. We have his resurrection power at work in our lives and in this world bringing the great Light of the world into the darkest places - we are not alone! We are not forgotten. Jesus asks us to lift our eyes, to look at him and watch him work - watch him bring glory to his Father - even in our circumstances, even when we've given up hope.

God IS good. God IS love and he is merciful and he knows his children, each one of us, by name - every hair of our precious heads, every tear that has been shed, every "Why?" that has been cried out; and he says, "I love you. Watch me. I'm here and will not let you go. You are mine."

Look at Peter. From his deep despair he was restored to the Rock that Jesus called and created him to be. That terrible night didn't ruin the plans of our Almighty God.

Lift your eyes.

 I look up to the mountains;
    does my strength come from mountains?
No, my strength comes from God,
    who made heaven, and earth, and mountains.
He won’t let you stumble,
    your Guardian God won’t fall asleep.
Not on your life! Israel’s
    Guardian will never doze or sleep.
God’s your Guardian,
    right at your side to protect you—
Shielding you from sunstroke,
    sheltering you from moonstroke.
God guards you from every evil,
    he guards your very life.
He guards you when you leave and when you return,

    he guards you now, he guards you always. Psalm 121 (The Message)