“The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints.” 

Ephesians 1:18

Ever had a moment when you couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel? Paul, the author of Ephesians, knows a lot about hard times too — but, he knew how to always see the light at the end of the tunnel.

Even when he’s in prison, not able to continue doing the work of ministry the way he wanted, with a very real possibility of execution. This is Paul’s situation when he’s writing Ephesians. And yet, instead of talking about how there’s no hope for him and no light at the end of the tunnel, he talks about hope and confidence and joy. 

So how does he do it? How can he be so hopeful and joyful and confident when he’s locked up and facing the possibility of death? How does Paul always see the light at the end of the tunnel?

It’s because of what he says in this verse. His understanding is enlightened, he knows the hope of God’s calling, and he knows the glory of God’s inheritance. Basically, Paul focuses on the God that he trusts and worships — the God that he knows is sovereign over the entire universe and every little part of it.

In this letter that Paul wrote from his jail cell, he reminds the churches of Ephesus about God’s blessings. He reminds them that they have been saved to bring glory to God. He reminds them that God has reconciled them to Him and to each other. He wants them to know that God’s purpose is always higher than ours.

That’s how Paul is always able to see a light at the end of the tunnel. Because his eyes are fixed on God and he trusts in God. He knows he has nothing to fear, because God is with him and he has hope in that.

So the next time you’re stuck in a pitch black tunnel, feeling lost and hopeless, I hope your eyes find Christ. I hope you remember that God is in charge and that He has incredible plans for us far beyond what we can understand or imagine. And I hope you find hope, confidence, and joy in our reconciliation with God and His presence with us in every moment, especially the pitch black tunnel ones.

PRAYER: God, thank You for reconciling me to You through the sacrifice of Your Son on the cross. Thank You for being with me in every moment of my life, from the hard ones to the happy ones. Help me to keep my eyes on You. Amen.