“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus:” An Inspiring Hymn by Alan Jackson

Is there a way out of this misery? We often wonder if we could get away from the things that trouble us. And, the truth is there is a way. All you have to do is turn your eyes upon Jesus. Yes, Jesus is the answer to anything that troubles our soul.

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” -Isaiah 41:10

Proof God Cares

If you don’t believe that Jesus is the answer to our pain, you can find proof all around you. First, there is the Bible, written in it are God’s promises to us. Second, you can find people who experienced God’s love and care to them. You can listen to their stories to know that God will always comfort us.

“Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”

God’s love for us has also been expressed in songs. There are hundreds or even thousands of hymns written about God and his love for us. One of which is the song “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.”

This hymn was written by Helen Howarth Lemmel in 1918. It was said that her inspiration came from a pamphlet with the words written on it:

“So then, turn your eyes upon Him, look full into His face and you will find that the things of earth will acquire a strange new dimness.”

However, some believed that she was inspired to write the song because of the troubles she experienced in life. Whatever is  Lemmel’s inspiration to write the song, it doesn’t matter. What really counts is that she’s an amazing and inspiring songwriter.

Alan Jackson’s Version

Lemmel’s moving song was covered by Alan Jackson in 2006. This was one of the songs he included on his first gospel album. Jackson’s rendition was only part of the album. He never released it as a single. Therefore, it never entered the chart. However, the album did secure a spot on the Billboard chart.

The Song’s Inspiring Message

The narrator of the song wants us to know that despite the darkness, there will always be light. But, if we want to see the light or have it, we need to first believe in it. If we trust Jesus (the Light), then all our troubles will seem small. As Jesus grows bigger in our life, the troubles are still there, but it’s not heavy as it was before.

What a truly beautiful song!