"Eye" am with you

If you look to the left in this photo, you’ll see two eye-shaped land formations that seem to be looking heavenward.  Actually slices of a hill too steep to plow, they are known locally as “The Eyes of the Palouse.”   Located deep in what’s called the “Palouse country” of eastern Washington—known for rolling scrublands and grain crops—they’re a welcome sight for us as we make the four-hour trip to see our daughter and family. As we travel east, seeing them means we’re just an hour from our destination. 

Our son and daughter both attended Washington State University on the far eastern edge of our state. (A few years later, my daughter and husband, who finished his degree there, decided to return there to settle after teaching two years in China.) During those many long back-and-forth trips during  our son and daughter's college years, the “eyes” reminded me of a Biblical allusion to God’s omniscience:

The eyes of the LORD range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him. (2 Chronicles 16:9)

Every trip, they symbolized for me how my student son and daughter, facing the challenges and trials of college life, were at all times watched by my Heavenly Father, the Lord of all. They turned out okay--praise God.  But I recalled how the same verse had helped me trust God through all the changes and travels I experienced as a young adult pursuing mission service, graduate school,  and a job halfway across the nation.

During our most recent trip past the “eyes,” however, other “eye” verses came to mind:

I lift up my eyes to you, to you whose throne is in heaven. (Psalm 123:1)

I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?  My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  (Psalm 121:1-2)

Lately we've gone through some difficult issues in extended family. The struggle has been long and deeply wounding.  I yearn for hope or answers, but see none.  Then God reminds me: the solution is not my responsibility.  He is on the throne, not me.  He, the ruler of the universe, is in charge.

The great “I-am” is also the great “Eye-am” who sees all: past, present, future. And He is worthy of my trust and love, even when what I see is bleak:

Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. (Psalm 34:3)