Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. – Hebrews 12:2

My husband loves to fish. He enjoys fishing from the shore, and here in Tennessee that often means navigating large rocks, boulders, and steep inclines just to reach the sweet spot.

The other day, while telling me about one of his latest adventures, he said, “I was looking down and lost my balance for a minute, but when I looked up, I found it again.”

Immediately, I could picture it — his footing becoming uncertain, the awareness that one wrong step could lead to a painful fall, and then the simple act of lifting his head. Somehow, looking up helped steady him again.

As soon as I heard it, I thought about how often the same thing happens spiritually.

Life can feel unsteady, uncertain, and unsafe. When my focus stays fixed on the obstacles beneath me, fear has a way of creeping in. But when I lift my eyes to Jesus, I find my footing again.

He steadies what feels shaky.

He quiets my fear.

He reminds me that I was never meant to navigate life alone.

(From a new project I’ve been quietly working on lately.)