The beautiful hymn was penned by Helen Lemmel in 1918. She was fifty-four. At the time she was visiting a friend who showed her a gospel tract by Lillias Trotter, a missionary to North Africa. The tract was called “Focused.” On it were written the following words: “So then, turn your eyes upon Him, look full into His face and you will find that the things of earth will acquire strange new dimness.” From that simple sentence Helen, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, went on to write “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.”
Psalms 34:5 says that, “Those who look to him are radiant.” A beautiful promise from a beautiful Savior.
“When we look to the world, we are perplexed, and at a loss. But on looking to Christ depends our whole salvation, and all things needful thereunto do so also. This poor man, whom no man looked upon with any respect, or looked after with any concern, was yet welcome to the throne of grace; the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.” (Matthew Henry)
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O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
O’er us sin no more hath dominion—
For more than conquerors we are!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
His Word shall not fail you—He promised;
Believe Him, and all will be well:
Then go to a world that is dying,
His perfect salvation to tell!
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.
What a beautiful hymn to sing myself to sleep with!
“There’s light for a look at the Savior…
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.”
Thank you for this sweet, sweet treat!
Have a sweet and restful night in Jesus!
How I love this hymn Christina! We used to sing this regularly, but it’s been years! Angie and I love to go through the hymnbook and sing (just did that a bit ago!) We’ll sing this one now.
I never knew the story behind it though. Thank you for sharing it.
I love: The things of earth will grow stangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace! AMEN!
Blessings to you and Steven this weekend dear sister!
Hi Christina…. tis a good one! I sung this with my kids growing up and in our home fellowships… with guitar….it also works really well in Spanish..
Surely the splendor of our blessed Lord makes this world grow dim…surely all who love Him have the radiant face!
Thanks for sharing!
Blessings to you and Steven on this fine Lord’s Day!
Off to worship with all the glorious saints….Shaan
Thank you for posting the story behind this hymn, Christina. These words are so true. Everything is put in its right perspective when we fix our eyes on Jesus the author and finisher of our faith.
Thank you! I love this hymn too, and I did not know the story behind it either.
I am reading Charles Spurgeon’s biography, and I just remember how he tells about his conversion… only by “looking at Jesus”
Blessings as you walk under His wings this week!
This was a wonderful surprise! Singing this in the Charismatic church, we only sang the chorus…(over and over + + +) and this is the first time I have ever heard that there is more to it than that!!!…never knew that it was part of a hymn! Gee, the things I learn on blogs 😉 Wow-singing part of a hymn in a Charismatic church- how funny. Just went over to utube to have a listen-beautiful. Thanks for the history and the great post!