Keep Your Eyes on God – September 2, 2026

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Read: Jeremiah 15:15-21

LORD, you understand; remember me and care for me. Avenge me on my persecutors. You are long-suffering—do not take me away; think of how I suffer reproach for your sake. Why is my pain unending and my wound grievous and incurable? You are to me like a deceptive brook, like a spring that fails. Therefore this is what the LORD says: “If you repent, I will restore you that you may serve me . . . Let this people turn to you, but you must not turn to them. I will make you a wall to this people, a fortified wall of bronze; they will fight against you but will not overcome you, for I am with you to rescue and save you,” declares the LORD. “I will save you from the hands of the wicked and deliver you from the grasp of the cruel.” Jeremiah 15:15,18-21

Keep Your Eyes on God

In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

My dad always got excited when he saw deer while driving. He would shout, “Deer!” so that everyone in the vehicle could look.

But here’s what almost always happened. As Dad turned toward the tree line, the vehicle veered a little. We were never in danger of crashing, but it certainly wasn’t helpful.

Maybe you have experienced something similar while riding your bike. You turn to look at something, and suddenly your bike begins moving in that direction. Where you look can affect where you go.

In the verses above, Jeremiah was losing his focus. God had made him a prophet. Jeremiah’s job was to tell Israel to turn from sin and listen to God. But the people refused to listen. They mistreated Jeremiah, and their country was headed for disaster because of their unbelief.

All this weighed heavily on Jeremiah. He felt hurt, angry, and alone. He even began to wonder whether God was keeping his promises.

How did God answer?

God called Jeremiah to turn back to him and trust his promises again. It was as if God said, “I know people are turning against you because you believe in me and speak my Word. I know that hurts. But don’t let their unbelief pull you away from me. I am with you. I will rescue you and save you.”

God makes that promise to us, too. When we show that we believe in God, people may make our lives difficult. When we speak God’s Word, they may turn against us. Instead of keeping our eyes on God, we may begin watching what everyone else is doing. We may wonder whether following God is worth it. We may even begin wandering away from him.

That is dangerous. But when it happens, God lovingly calls us back. He turns our eyes away from our fears, doubts, and other people’s opinions. He turns our eyes to Jesus.
Jesus never turned away from his Father’s Word—not even when people hated him and nailed him to a cross. He died for all the times we have doubted God or wandered from him. Then he rose to assure us that we are forgiven.

Remember God’s promise: He is not only leading you to heaven; he is with you right now. He will strengthen you, rescue you, and bring you safely home. Where you look can affect where you go. So when fear, trouble, or other people pull your attention away, keep your eyes on Jesus. His eyes are always on you.

Prayer:

Lord, when other people turn against me because I believe in you, keep my eyes on Jesus. Strengthen me with your promise that you are with me and, therefore, my enemies will not overpower me. Amen.

The questions below are to help families discuss this devotion. The questions are divided by age group as suggestions, but anyone could reflect on any of the questions as they desire.

Questions for Younger Children

• What did Jeremiah do when he felt afraid and alone?
• When you feel afraid, who promises to be with you?

Questions for Elementary Age Children

• What kinds of things can distract us from listening to God and trusting his promises?
• Describe a time when following God’s Word meant not doing what others were doing. How did that make you feel, and what promise from God could help you?

Questions for Middle School and Above

• Jeremiah sometimes felt alone because he would not join the people around him in doing wrong. When might following God’s Word make someone your age feel alone?
• Jeremiah called God’s words his “joy” and his “heart’s delight.” How can regularly hearing God’s Word help you keep your attention on Jesus when you feel hurt, doubtful, or alone?

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