Fix Your Eyes on Christ

In this life, our focus is constantly being pulled in a thousand different directions. We look at our bank accounts, our hectic daily schedules, our inner anxieties, and the chaos of the world around us. When we fix our eyes on these temporal struggles, it is remarkably easy to become overwhelmed, anxious, and deeply discouraged.

But we are given a beautiful and profound reminder from Elder Ephraim of Arizona that calls us back to the true center of our faith. He writes:

"Let our eyes be fixed on the Lord, always trusting His mercy, until He has mercy on us."
— Elder Ephraim of Arizona

Elder Ephraim doesn't say to look at our problems or analyze our defeats; he commands us to fix our eyes on the Lord. The moment we lift our gaze above the horizon of our struggles, the power of fear begins to collapse.

To "fix" our eyes means to secure them in place, ensuring our vision does not waver despite the wind and waves around us. It mirrors the exact instruction found in Hebrews 12:2 to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. It means that in the middle of the storm, we look to Christ. When we pray, we look to Christ. When we suffer, we look to Christ.

The Psalmist captured this spiritual posture perfectly:

"Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters... so our eyes wait upon the Lord our God, until that he have mercy upon us."
— Psalm 123:2 (KJV)

This is not a casual glance. It is an intentional, unwavering dependency. When your spiritual eyes are fixed on Him, the noise of the world begins to quiet down, and the true scale of God’s sovereignty comes into clear focus.

Notice the quality of the focus described in this teaching: always trusting His mercy. Elder Ephraim reminds us that God’s mercy is not a temporary, conditional, or erratic thing. It is a constant and unchanging reality. We do not have to beg for a reluctant God to notice us; we simply have to trust the mercy that He has already proven through the Cross.

If your heart has grown cold or fearful, it is likely because you have started trusting in your own strength rather than His mercy. Our own strength will fail us, our wisdom will fall short, and our resolve will crack under pressure. But His mercy is new every morning. By anchoring our trust entirely in His grace, we find an unshakable foundation that no earthly trial can erode.

The final phrase of the Elder's teaching calls us to patience: "until He has mercy on us." This requires us to wait upon the Lord with complete confidence, continuing to lift our spiritual gaze to Him until His grace and mercy fill our hearts and transform our circumstances.

Waiting is not passive laziness; it is an active stance of faith. It is the declaration that we will not seek worldly shortcuts, we will not give in to despair, and we will not turn away from the throne of grace. We stand watchfully, knowing that His timing is perfect and His deliverance is guaranteed.

Let us carry this powerful teaching into our daily lives. Whenever you feel overwhelmed this week, stop, catch your breath, and deliberately refocus your mind and heart on Christ. Turn away from the distractions that feed your anxiety and look squarely at the Savior.

Trust that He sees you, He loves you, and His mercy is already at work within your life. The work is finished, the victory is won, and the Lord is waiting for you to simply rest your eyes upon Him.

Fix your eyes on Christ. Trust His mercy. Stand firm until it arrives.