Lift Your Eyes

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.

A mother hangs her head low, her child’s outright disobedience burdening her soul. She wonders, What do I do now? Where does my help come from?

A woman receives an email, her confidence stripped by the hurtful tirade of words. Tears fill her eyes as she stares at each accusation. She wonders, How do I respond? Where does my help come from?

A teenage girl looks down at the scale, the number she sees taunting her. She has restricted her diet and added extra workouts but she’s starting to realize that even if she achieves the “right” number, it will never satiate her longing to be loved. She wonders, How have I gotten here? Where does my help come from?

As you read this book, I don’t know what your day holds, what burdens you carry, or what responsibilities you have. But I do know that at some point today, tomorrow, or in the near future, your head will hang low and you’ll wonder the same question: Where does my help come from?

Thousands of years ago, a fellow traveler on life’s journey asked the same question. Psalm 121 is one of the Songs of Ascent. These psalms were intended to be sung by Jews on their journey to the Temple in Jerusalem at yearly festivals. While we know very little about this traveler, we can take comfort from this timeless prayer, which turns our aching hearts to our ever-present help in times of trouble (see Psalm 46:1).

As we journey over hills of heartache and through trenches of disappointment, seeking cover from the valley of the shadow of death (see Psalm 23:4), this psalm reminds us of one simple thing we need to do: lift our eyes from our troubles to the Lord, who provides us with the help we need.

Help does not come from within us; help comes from our Maker, who is with us (see Psalm 121:2).

When you lie awake, tossing and turning in the depths of the night, wondering what to say, what to do, and what will happen next, remember where your help comes from.

When exhaustion overwhelms you like the relentless summer sun, scorching your soul and preventing you from receiving much-needed rest, lift your eyes to God, who lifts his righteous right hand to shield you from the sun’s heat.

God comes alongside us and lifts our eyes, our heads, and our hands so we can confidently say, “My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2). The same God who guarded the writer of this psalm and those who sang its words on the way to Jerusalem guards you too. He watches over your life—not just in the daytime, but also in the nighttime. So lift your eyes from the messes around you, the worries that burden you, and the accusations that consume you, and receive help from your God, who never sleeps.

Word before World Your help does not come from within; it comes from the Lord, who is always with you.

Grow in Grace Name what is ailing your soul today, and then physically lift your eyes with confidence in the Lord’s provision and protection.