Every believer who’s even halfway paying attention eventually feels it: the tension of living redeemed in a world not fully rescued. God has already declared that everything has been brought under His authority and rule, but it’s hard to escape the fact that much of the world still appears resistant to that reality. Suffering, death, and evil still exist; people made in His image are still wounded, and even our own lives often feel less ordered and more chaotic than we’d like them to be. Hebrews 2 gives us language for this reality we find ourselves in.

The writer reaches into Psalm 8 and extracts familiar words about humanity’s God-given calling to exercise faithful rule over creation. But we can all agree that we haven’t yet fulfilled this divine vocation. But then, Hebrews turns our attention to another thought. We may not be able to see everything’s subjection fully; however, verse 9 says, “but we do see Jesus.”
He stepped into our human condition, suffered the death of a mere mortal, and was crowned with glory and honor. His death and resurrection have broken the power of death and all those who oppose Him.
 
Nowhere in Scripture are we admonished to pretend like things aren’t still broken around us. It does tell us that what we presently see isn’t the entire story. Jesus’ passage through death and into glory has already established the clear direction this story is moving.
 
Faithful endurance starts by holding both of these truths together. We can’t see everything made right just yet, but we can look on Jesus, our King. Our hope in Him fixes our gaze and attention on the One whose victory has guaranteed this tension won’t last forever.

Think of some areas where you are tempted to measure God’s faithfulness only by what you can presently see. How can “keeping your eyes on Jesus” change the way you endure trials and hardships that remain unresolved?

Father, there are lots of things I know I can’t make right. I can’t ease Brynna’s physical suffering; I can’t bring Eli back to life, and I can’t guarantee the ones I love will all find you on their journey. Keep me from confusing what is unfinished with what is uncertain. Help me to trust Your victory when my circumstances remain difficult and teach me to endure faithfully until what You have begun is finally brought to completion. Amen.

“When I cannot yet see how God is working, I want to keep looking to Jesus by __________________.”