“Face To Face” - Carrie Breck

1855–1934

Most biographical information about Carrie Breck will include this fact: while she’s known for being the author of many hymns, she had no sense of pitch and was not able to carry a tune. Her hymns came from poems she wrote that were set to music by others.

One of her best-known hymns, “Face to Face,” was the result of that kind of partnership. The story goes that Carrie sent a poem to a family friend, Grant Tullar. As it happened, just the night before, Grant had composed a new tune. When he put Carrie’s words to his music, they were a perfect fit.

The hymn deals with something that many of us have wondered from time to time: When we finally meet Jesus face-to-face, what exactly will it be like? Now we see him only “faintly,” Carrie’s text observes, with a “darkened veil” obscuring our knowledge of him (picking up on the dark glass of 1 Corinthians 13:12, KJV). From Scripture and from the Spirit’s whispers, we have hints of what Jesus is like, but we can’t know fully—not yet. But one day we will be face to face with him, and the reality will surely be far more amazing than we can imagine.

Carrie’s lyrics also refer to the “grief and pain” of our current lives that will be “banished” in that moment of connection with Christ. It’s natural to be frustrated with our own frailty. All of creation groans, waiting for that redemptive moment (see Romans 8:22). We look forward not only to the sight of our Savior, but also to our own transformation. John says that “we will be like him, for we will see him as he really is” (1 John 3:2).

As we wait for that glorious day, we can still get to know Jesus better now. Prayer and meditation on Scripture can draw us closer to him. Following his teachings and connecting with other believers can also bring us a fuller understanding of who Jesus is. And that will make us all the more eager to see him face to face.

My heart says of you, “Seek his face!” Your face, LORD, I will seek.

Psalm 27:8, NIV