Keep Your Eyes Fixed on God!

Charlie Kirk is a name that has constantly been on my mind in recent days, as I’m sure it has been for most. His assassination was a tragic and shocking event that shook up the United States, especially in the political world. 

I’ve lived through a number of impactful world events, but this tragedy and the ensuing fallout from it feel different than previous major political events. Politicians are desperately seeking ways to fix the country and restore peace, and there is no shortage of divided opinions on how to get there. In a country fraught with hate and violence, where should our attention be fixed? What should we be doing as God’s chosen people when there is evil constantly surrounding us? 

In the wake of the assassination, I spent time reading through Psalm 119 for guidance, which will be the basis for the majority of this article. The following sections focus on how we can process chaotic worldly events in a spiritually edifying manner—in a way that keeps God at the center of our attention.

1. Sigh and Cry

In Ezekiel 9, God highlights a clear expectation for His people to sigh and cry over the abominations going on in the world. Within this prophecy, a messenger of God is told to “Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem, and put a mark on the foreheads of the men who sigh and cry over all the abominations that are done within it” (Ezekiel 9:4). The previous chapter described the violence and idolatry of the land (Ezekiel 8:10, 13, 16). Those who received a mark were saved from the impending destruction of the people within the perverse city. 

The UCG commentary notes that sighing and crying “does not mean an absence of any joy and happiness in life. Rather, it means regular and heartfelt sober reflection on the state of the world.” 

In times of turbulent world events, the human tendency is to try to use human means to fix the things we see; the reality is that only God can truly heal this world. Recognizing that God alone can fix the problems in the world allows us to sigh and cry in a God-centered manner.

2. Hate Evil

Without hating evil, it’s easy to become apathetic and view every new world event as just another day on earth. Instead, God expects His people to recognize and despise evil: “Indignation has taken hold of me because of the wicked, who forsake Your law” (Psalm 119:53). 

Notice that the indignation that David describes is based on how the wicked abandon God’s way of life. It is hard to hate lawlessness without a clear understanding of the law (1 John 3:4). To hate evil is to know God and to mourn those devoid of His laws: “I see the treacherous, and am disgusted, because they do not keep Your word” (Psalm 119:158). 

While our time shouldn’t be spent in a constant state of hate for the world, it is imperative that we recognize the depravity of a world that has abandoned God; we cannot allow our minds to become seared and numb to the events of the world (1 Timothy 4:2). Additionally, we should guard against being drawn into fruitless debates and distractions that lead us away from God’s truth and mindset.

3. Strengthen Your Relationship With God

There is a lot of negativity associated with worldly events, especially when they are shocking and traumatic. It’s important to curb that negativity by refocusing on our relationship with God. In a world increasingly straying from God’s way, we must compare ourselves to God’s standard. David meditated often on God’s word and was strengthened by it: “My soul melts from heaviness; strengthen me according to Your word” (Psalm 119:28). 

Another verse in Psalm 119 shows David’s careful observation of his actions and the correction he sometimes needed to make: “I thought about my ways, and turned my feet to Your testimonies” (Psalm 119:59). In the midst of difficult worldly events, it’s a good time to reevaluate our relationship with God. 

We should be comparing our thoughts and reactions toward worldly events to God’s word. What do we need to change to reflect His character? Our peace should come from our reliance on God— not from hope in mankind’s vain attempts to save the world.

4. Seek Biblical Understanding

There are countless ways to obtain information in this digital age. Besides the many news outlets, there are podcasts, social media accounts, websites and other facets of human knowledge readily available to the general public. Just because there is a wealth of knowledge available, however, doesn’t mean that it is always edifying. Especially when we try to make sense of tragedies in the world, our worldview should be centered on the Bible: “Let my cry come before You, O LORD; give me understanding according to Your word” (Psalm 119:169). 

Seeking understanding from God’s word is our only basis of truth and wisdom; our energy is best spent in searching the Bible for answers. True clarity comes not from worldly sources, but from the wisdom of God’s word.

5. Meditate on God’s Plan

The greatest source of comfort I find in tribulations is meditating on God’s plan for a better, perfect future. David wrote many psalms about finding comfort through God’s word and commandments: “You are near, O LORD, and all Your commandments are truth” (Psalm 119:151). 

The pain and suffering of this world are not the end goal, and they are not what God has in store for His children. So, consider His plan! “I will meditate on Your precepts, and contemplate Your ways” (Psalm 119:15). 

Where do we devote our mental energy: toward the chaos of the world, or toward God’s Holy Days and His perfect plan for all humanity? We should all strive to exemplify David’s example, who found joy in God’s laws and spent his days meditating on them: “Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day” (Psalm 119:97). Focusing our minds on God ensures that our priorities stay aligned with His plan and our perspective remains grounded in truth.

Conclusion

In times of distress, it’s important to keep ourselves spiritually focused, not letting ourselves become complacent or having our conscience seared. Now is the time to sigh and cry, hate evil, strengthen our relationship with God, seek Biblical understanding, and meditate on God’s plan. Only God has the answers—not humans with the constant news barrage and divisive speculations. We can’t change the way of the world, but we can focus on the big picture and strive to be ready when Christ returns to this world to heal it for good.