Second Sunday in Lent, March 1 My Faith Looks Up to Thee

Scripture:
“We love because he first loved us.”I John 4:19

Hymn Focus:
“My faith looks up to Thee,
Thou Lamb of Calvary…”

Lent is a season that teaches us where to look. When the weight of sin, sorrow, or uncertainty presses in, our natural instinct is often to look inward or backward—to our failures, our fears, or our regrets. The hymn “My Faith Looks Up to Thee” gently redirects our gaze upward, toward Christ, the Lamb who bears our sin.

To look up in faith is not to deny the reality of our struggle. Lent invites honest reflection and repentance. Yet this hymn reminds us that even our repentance is grounded in hope. We lift our eyes not to ourselves, but to the One whose sacrifice makes forgiveness possible.

The image of Christ as the “Lamb of Calvary” draws us to the heart of Lent. Jesus willingly offers Himself, carrying our sin and sorrow. As we reflect on the cross, we are reminded that grace meets us before we are fully ready, before we have all the answers, before we feel worthy.

The hymn also becomes a prayer for guidance and strength:
“While life’s dark maze I tread,
And griefs around me spread…”
Lent acknowledges that the path of faith is not always clear or easy. There are seasons of confusion, grief, and fatigue. In those moments, faith is not certainty—it is trust. It is choosing, again and again, to keep looking to Christ when the way feels dark.

The hymn ends with a plea for enduring hope:
“O bear me safe above,
A ransomed soul.”
Lent points us beyond the cross to the promise of resurrection. The journey may pass through shadow, but it does not end there. Christ’s love carries us through death into new life.

As you journey through Lent, let this hymn shape your prayer. When you are tempted to look away, look up. Fix your faith on Christ, trusting that His grace is sufficient for every step of the way.

Prayer

Lamb of God,
In this Lenten season, we lift our eyes to You.
Forgive our sins, strengthen our faith,
and guide us through the dark places of life.
When our steps falter, hold us fast.
Keep our hearts fixed on You,
until we reach the joy of new life in Christ.
Amen.