Dear Precious Friends,
On this beautiful new day, this gift we have been given, I pray as we walk through difficulties we immediately remember where our help comes from... Psalm 121 would have been sung as Israel approached “the hill of the Lord” to worship him (Psalm 15:1; 24:3). But the mountain on which Israel met with God was not the only possible object of their attention. “The hills” — on which many nations worshiped their false gods — could have appeared as alluring havens of hope, or intimidating causes of concern.
Either way, the psalmist’s appraisal of his situation reflects the place in which we all find ourselves. Our help comes only from the hill of the Lord — the Lord who made all the hills (Psalm 121:2). All other hills we see before us in life can neither rescue us nor destroy us.
When the hills in our life look like the solution to our pain or the source of our affliction, the psalmist teaches us to look elsewhere for our help. We look with spiritual eyes to the heavenly hill of Zion, the dwelling place of the Lord. “My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2).
The source of our help is both personal and impeccably competent. Neither fret over the hills nor try to hide in their fleeting shadows — the Lord made heaven and earth. “The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth” (Psalm 97:5).
Look to the Lord who is eternal, all-powerful, and who loves you and I so much, He came and died the death we deserve so we can live with him in eternity.
He gives us the perseverance we need to stay faithful to him at the foot of that hill. He may effortlessly wipe that hill out of the way. He may open our eyes to see that the hill is actually full of horses and chariots of fire sent on our behalf. The source of our help is what matters:
Our help comes from the Lord.
Jesus gives us the kind of peace that surpasses understanding even as he strips away the false assurance we take from our earthly circumstances. “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life” (Psalm 119:50). He is kind to teach us that our help comes from him alone.
Our despair over life in this fallen world would truly be the end of all our stories — were it not for a cross that stood on one particular hill two thousand years ago. Jesus climbed that hill and took on the greatest obstacle humanity has ever faced — the just wrath of God because of our sin. Christ suffered for our sins, “the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are” (1 John 3:1)
In this life we may be struck down, but not destroyed (2 Corinthians 4:9). In the shadow of the cross, every affliction that threatens to squeeze your joy right out of you is meant to strengthen your faith. Because the decisive battle in the war against our soul happened at the cross, you don’t have to put false hope in crumbling hills or be afraid of what is hiding in them. Jesus offers us a life that is more full and more enjoyable than the life that revolves around those hills.
Whether they seem to you like trouble or shelter, look away from those hills to Calvary, to Christ crucified on your behalf. He alone is our help. To the one that is sitting on the edge of your bed, with your head in your hands, filled with despair, you are seen. You are loved. You are enough. The Lord would say to you today, lift your head, to the One where your help comes from. Put on the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness. In My presence there is fullness of joy.
I pray for us all and I see us with our hands raised in victory. Worship our way out. Greater is He! This is how we fight our battles!
Lord, I pray for those who are feeling despair, hopelessness, anxiety, and heaviness. We break that spirit of depression in the name of Jesus. We put on the garment of praise, in Your presence there is fullness of joy. Your joy is our strength. As we praise and worship You would You pour forth Your anointing oil of joy in abundance. Fill us up Lord. Help us to know that You are where our help comes from. In our weakness You are strong. Thank you for the peace that passes all understanding. In the matchless name of Jesus.
AMEN!
Isaiah 61:3
3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified.
Psalm 121:2
2 My help cometh from the Lord, which made heaven and earth.
