Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus
One of the 94 hymns we sing together at Cornerstone Reformed Baptist Church on the Gold Coast. Browse the full hymnbook.
Lyrics
Verse 1
O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s a light for a look at the Saviour,
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.
Verse 2
Through death into life everlasting
He passed, and we follow Him there;
Over 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.
Verse 3
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.
Behind the Hymn
"Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus" was written by Helen Howarth Lemmel in 1922 after reading a missionary tract by Lilias Trotter called "Focused." Lemmel was born in England in 1864 but grew up in the United States, studying vocal music in Germany and becoming a well-known singer and music teacher. The phrase from Trotter's pamphlet that struck her was: "So then, turn your eyes upon Him, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of earth will grow strangely dim in the light of His glory and grace." Lemmel later recalled, "I stood still and singing could be heard in my soul." She quickly wrote both the words and the music, and the hymn was published that same year. The song's simple chorus became far more famous than its verses, and it has been a staple of church worship and devotional singing for over a century. Lemmel continued writing hymns — over 500 in total — until her death in 1961 at the age of 97, but none achieved the lasting impact of this one radiant song.