Where Are Your Eyes?

Where are your eyes?

Yes, I know. Technically, they’re in your head. This isn’t a biology lesson. It’s a heart check.

Where are your eyes looking?
What are you focusing on?

Because when our focus drifts to the wrong things, it doesn’t take long to lose our way.

Life is long and life is hard. To endure it well, you have to stay focused on what matters. You have to stay focused on what grounds you.

So again, I ask:

Where are your eyes?

A Story of Focus in the Storm

There’s a powerful story in the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 14, that speaks directly to this question.

At this point in Jesus’ ministry, word about his ministry was spreading quickly. He was healing the sick, restoring sight to the blind, and teaching with an authority people had never seen before. Crowds followed Him everywhere.

One evening, after a long day of teaching, the people realized they had no food. Jesus took five loaves of bread and two fish and miraculously fed over 5,000 people.

Afterward, Jesus sent His disciples ahead of Him across the Sea of Galilee while He withdrew to a solitary place to pray.

Mini side note: There’s so much to learn from this. Jesus, the Son of God, regularly withdrew to pray. He understood that He needed to stay connected to the Father in order to sustain His ministry. Preparation mattered more than constant activity.

Meanwhile, out on the sea, the disciples ran into trouble.

A violent storm arose. Waves crashed against the boat, and the wind battered them relentlessly. These were experienced fishermen. These men who knew these waters well, but this storm was different. After battling it most of the night, they found themselves far from land and exhausted.

Then, in the early morning hours, they saw something, someone, approaching them.

It wasn’t a piece of drift wood.
It wasn’t another boat.
It looked like a man… walking on the water.

Some probably thought exhaustion was playing tricks on their minds. Others were probably convinced they were seeing a ghost. Scripture tells us fear gripped them.

But it wasn’t anything that they expected.

As the figure drew closer, they recognized the figure.

It was Jesus.

He called out to them, “Take courage. It is I. Don’t be afraid.”

Stepping Out of the Boat

The disciples were stunned. And then Peter did something bold. Something reckless by human standards.

He shouted, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”

Jesus replied with a single word: “Come.”

Peter stepped out of the boat.

And he didn’t sink.

Standing on the waves, soaked and surrounded by chaos, Peter fixed his eyes on Jesus and began to walk toward Him. One step at a time.

The wind still howled.
The waves still crashed.
The storm hadn’t stopped.

But Peter kept moving forward.

Until something changed.

His focus shifted.

He stopped looking at Jesus and started looking at the storm. The wind, the waves, the dark water beneath his feet. Panic took hold, and in an instant, he began to sink.

Where were his eyes?

Peter cried out, “Lord, save me!”
Jesus immediately reached out, caught him, and said, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

The Question We All Must Answer

We will all face storms in life. That’s not a matter of if, but when.

The real question is this:
When the storm comes, where will your eyes be?

Will you stay focused on Jesus, or will you get consumed by the chaos around you?

Jesus never promised an easy life. In fact, He calls us to take up our cross and follow Him. But He does promise that He will work all things together for the good of those who love and trust Him.

The storm may rage, but when our eyes stay fixed on Jesus, we can walk through it.

I’ll ask you again:

Where are your eyes?

Keeping the Main Thing the Main Thing

In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says:

“Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness.”

Not “second.”
Not “when you have time.”
Not “when everything else is handled.”

First.

Without God, we can do nothing.

Be careful not to turn a good thing into a God thing. Keep your eyes on Jesus.

In this long and demanding season, where will your focus be?

Where are your eyes?

When you seek God first, it’s amazing how many other things begin to fall into place. Root yourself in the wellspring from which all life and goodness flow.

Without that foundation, you won’t finish the walk.
You won’t finish the race.
You won’t finish the game set before you.

So don’t get distracted by what doesn’t matter.
Don’t listen to the outside noise.
Don’t believe the lies of the enemy or the voices of doubt.

Fix your eyes on the goal.

Finish the race.
Keep your eyes on Jesus.

Where are your eyes?

*Blog adapted from 2025 Chapel message