Lilias Trotter: Reflections of Hope

“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”

Helen H. Lemmel

At the age of 34, the same age I am as of writing this, Lilias Trotter in 1888 forsook the hopes of a prominent career as a painter and author in England to submerge herself, for the rest of her life, among the people of Algiers, Algeria, North Africa. She was proclaimed by her mentor, John Ruskin, as the next greatest female painter of her generation. Yet fame could not lure her away from God’s call on her life, to choose obscurity in the path of obedience to Him. She put her hope in her eternal sight, like Scripture says, “…seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. ” (Col. 3:1b-2). 

Through her eyes, the world continues to be captivated by the beauty of the flowers, landscapes, and people of Algeria. She humbly gave to the world her offering of sight for her 40 years lived in the desert. She held her hope in Christ as supreme to earthly comforts and the privileged, intellectual British family she grew up in. Through many difficulties, she learned the Arabic language in order to proclaim the gospel to as many Muslims as would listen.

“Take the very hardest thing in your life – the place of difficulty, outward or inward, and expect God to triumph gloriously in that very spot. Just there He can bring your soul into blossom.” – Lilias Trotter

Pain is often a requisite for God’s transforming work. When there was no way out, Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, prayed for another way to restore broken humanity (Luke 22:42) yet ultimately resigned to the resolution saying, “Not my will, but yours be done.” 

In similar fashion, the prophet Isaiah gives hope from the Lord in the midst of a trial, 

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you;

    and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you;

when you walk through fire you shall not be burned,

    and the flame shall not consume you.”

Isaiah 43:2

Isaiah’s sure hope and anchor is the promise of the presence of God. Verses 4 and 5 provide the foundation of that hope in the Lord: 1. He loves us; 2. He is with us. Those two things you can bank everything on: the affection of the Lord and His presence with you through every circumstance. 

Lilias was a blossom in the desert; an oasis of hope to the thirsty soul, as she held out the words of life (Phil. 2:16). I am challenged by her example to live a life poured out to God. Her perspective is motivating and convicting to not fix our eyes on temporal earthly things, but to fix our eyes on Jesus.

The hymn, “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus,” was written by a friend of Lilias’, Helen H. Tremmel, inspired by a letter from her: “Turn full your soul’s vision to Jesus, and look and look at Him, and a strange dimness will come over all that is apart from Him…”

Reflecting on the words of this hymn will surely focus the devotion of your heart upon one who is truly worthy of worship. 

There are depths of study and discovery worth pursuing found in these resources:

Online articles for further reading:

https://www.imb.org/2019/06/12/missionaries-you-should-know-lilias-trotter/

https://ililiastrotter.wordpress.com/

Books: 

A Blossom in the Desert: Reflections of Faith in the Art and Writings of Lilias Trotter 

Miriam Huffman Rockness

A Passion for the Impossible: The Life of Lilias Trotter 

Miriam Huffman Rockness

Movie (YouTube or Amazon DVD):

Many Beautiful Things: The Life and Vision of Lilias Trotter

Ashley Adams Beach, Vision Video