The Man Who sat down, tired, at the well at Sychar is the same One who gives us the Holy Spirit so that we can enjoy eternal life (see John 4:14). The Son of the carpenter who slept on a pillow in the boat had the power to subdue the storm and the waves and to save His disciples from every danger. He was inwardly moved by the misery of the people and at the same time able to instantaneously heal the sick with one word. He showed both human feelings and divine power. He encouraged the downcast, lifted up tired souls through words of grace, and at the same time raised the dead from the grave. He wept with those who wept and rejoiced with those who rejoiced (see John 12:1–2).

The life of Jesus was marked by an expectant gaze toward heaven. When it came to meeting the needs of 5000 hungry men, He took five loaves of bread and two fish in His hands, looked up and thanked God for them (see Mt. 14:19). Another time He looked up to heaven and sighed while healing a deaf man with a speech impediment (see Mark 7:34). At the tomb of Lazarus, He also looked in the same direction when He prayed with the firm conviction that the Father would hear Him—and again the glory of God shone forth! Finally, a few hours before His death, He once again raised His eyes upwards with confidence and prayed as no man has ever prayed before (see John 17).

Looking at the consequences of sin brings tears; but looking up leads to gratitude. When tears are accompanied by prayer, sadness does not lead to resignation. Hannah prayed with tears. She poured out her soul before the Lord and took courage. She had come to Shiloh with a broken heart, but she went home with confidence (see 1 Sam. 1:18). God heard her plea because her purpose was the glory of God and her desire to be in accordance with His will.

Neither did Jehoshaphat resign when he found himself with the people in what was, from a human point of view, a hopeless situation. He confessed his helplessness to the Lord in prayer—but he didn’t stop there— he prayed, “We are powerless against this great horde that is coming against us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chron. 20:12). The Psalmist had the same line of sight and said, “To you I lif t up my eyes, O you who are enthroned inthe heavens!” (Ps. 123:1)! In the New Testament we’re called to turn our eyes to “the founder and perfecter of our faith” (Heb. 12:2), who is now “crowned with glory and honor” (Heb. 2:9), sitting at the right hand of God. A life of dependence is linked to an attitude of anticipation and an unceasing gaze upwards—until He is gracious unto us (see Ps. 123:2).

What are your eyes focused on today? Are your eyes fixed on the circumstances, or do you decide to look beyond them at the One Who is above circumstances and to Whom all power is given in heaven and on earth? Be aware that every tear you shed here is recorded by God and at the same time His ears are toward your cry (Ps. 56:8; 34:15)!