In Hope We Lift Our Wishful, Longing Eyes

In Hope We Lift Our Wishful, Longing Eyes is a hymn by James George Deck that reflects the deep expectation of the believer for the return of Christ. Deck, a man known for his devotional hymns filled with scriptural truth, composed this hymn to stir the hearts of Christians toward hope and watchfulness. His words capture the anticipation of the “blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ” (Titus 2:13).

The hymn speaks of lifting our eyes in longing, expressing the desire for Christ’s promised return. It recognizes that the Christian life is a journey often filled with trials, but it also rests on the certainty that Christ will appear to take His people to Himself. In this way, the hymn reflects Hebrews 9:28, which declares that Christ “shall appear the second time without sin unto salvation” for those who wait for Him.

Deck’s hymn embodies the spirit of hope that has always sustained the Church, turning believers from earthly distractions to the eternal perspective. It resonates with the closing cry of Revelation 22:20, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” The longing tone of the hymn reminds Christians that their citizenship is in heaven, and that the true joy of the believer is not found in the passing things of this world, but in the coming of the Lord.

This hymn continues to encourage worshippers to fix their gaze upward in hope and to live in readiness for that glorious day. It is both a prayer and a proclamation of faith, giving voice to the deepest yearning of the Church across the ages: the desire to see Christ face to face.