Where Does Your Help Come From?

My day began early with a 7:30 a.m. fitness center workout. I had a chiropractor appointment at 9:30 and a scheduled conference all at 10:30 a.m. and was going to a lunch, which I passed up and then to CSU for an Energy Symposium and then my 2:45 medical massage appointment and then home to get a reference letter out to meet a timeline for a friend. But Andy (our dog) was thankful for the walk, even though it came later than usual.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY… I look up to the mountains—does my help come from there? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!”  Psalm 121:1,2 NLT

I believe these were the verses that were most often shared during my health crisis. When you are in trouble (as we saw in Psalm 120) two thing happen? You begin to look for help from some source. Or, you gain a great appreciation for your true source of help.

Over the years as a pastor, I have seen people in crisis look aimlessly and randomly for help from some source. There was more desperation than faith, confidence and clarity. As the spiritual pilgrim begins the journey to Jerusalem the hills and mountains become an obvious part of the landscape.

When he “looks up to the mountains” it is not just a gaze of the beauty of creation. In his day the spiritual pilgrim would see the hills dotted with shrines and altars to various idols and gods. So the question is natural, “where does my help come from?” Is it Baal? Is it Ashtoreth? Is it Molech, who demands the death of my child? Is is the sun? Is it the moon or stars?

Where is help that is steadfast, true and reliable? We don’t view idols in our day, but we do see all kinds of “sources of help” call for our attention and trust. Have you asked yourself, “where does my help come from?” When the supports of life are removed, when it seems the bottom has dropped out, where do you turn?

I like the strong confidence of this psalm. “….my help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth!” This is not the God who was made by human hands; this is not the God who is part of creation; this is the God who is above all and creator of all.

This Creator God is the One who guides and protects from all danger. “He will not let you stumble…The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade…he Lord keeps you from all harm and watches over your life.” (Psalm 121:3,5,7 NLT) The One who is with us in the journey, protects us in the journey. Even better news, He is the “round trip” God. The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go, both now and forever.” (Psalm 121:8 NLT)

When the Lord is our helper, we can journey with confidence, knowing we will make it to our final destination.

Prayer for today… Lord, thank You for the confidence that comes from trusting in You and finding in You our steadfast and reliable helper. Thank You that You journey with us and bring us safely home.