Help

“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” – Psalm 121:1-2

We all have times of hardship and doubt, when we grow tired and weary of the lives we live. As a general rule the human condition longs for peace and serenity but we fill our lives with distractions, some necessary and some not, that rob us of the precious opportunities we have for that peace. It may not necessarily be a season of trial but at the very least we find ourselves too busy, running to and fro, seeking worldly possessions and pleasures to give us rest. “If only I finish this project, or get this promotion, or make this amount of money, then I can rest!” we think, but the very pursuit of these things can distract us from the quiet voice of God calling us to His side; calling us to a life of holiness.

Psalm 121:1-2 was quoted in the 2006 Casting Crowns song “Praise You in the Storm” but the song failed to capture the true nature of this psalm. Psalm 121 was written as a Song of Ascent. These special songs were sung by the Jewish people as they climbed the hill and ascended to Jerusalem for the pilgrimage feasts at the Temple. They were sung with joy and excitement, but whether you can read this passage with excitement or hopeful lament the truth of the word remains. God alone is our help and everything else will let us down. He made the heavens and the earth. He can do all things, so we should trust him with the everyday affairs of our lives.