“My help comes from the Lord, Who made heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2)
In times like today, we need to lift our eyes to God, that is, we really need to focus upon our God.
We can do this because God is our Powerful Helper. The mountains of adversity may seem overwhelming, but our God is greater.
Notice, to the psalmist, God is the source of our help. In realizing this, he turns his focus from the mountains and towards his God.
God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. (Ps 46:1)
He acknowledges his God as helper and the giver of refuge, strength, peace and power. Contrary to that old ditty, God helps those that help themselves, the scripture teaches, God helps those who can’t help themselves. As Paul wrote,
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)
Truly, in trials, you and I cannot help ourselves, only God is the true source of our help. I like what someone has said, “I never knew Jesus was all I needed . . . until Jesus Christ was all I had.” When we are down in the pit, and the mountains seems so overwhelming, we need to turn to God, our help.
We can also lift our eyes in trust to God because He is the creator of all.
Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God: Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever. (Ps 146:5-6)
Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth. A Song of degrees. (Ps 124:8)
Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever. (Ps 146:6)
Notice what Isaiah wrote about our Creator,
Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding. He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. (Isaiah 40:28-31)
As creator, God has the power to be our helper. As creator, Go exercises His power to be our helper
In Luther’s Smaller Catechism: The First Article of Creation: I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.
Question: What does this mean? Answer: I believe that God has created me and all that exists; that he has given and still preserves to me my body and soul, my eyes and ears, and all my members, my reason and all the power of my soul, together with food and raiment, home and family, and all my property; that he daily provides abundantly for all the needs of my life, protects me from all danger, and guards and keeps me from all evil; and that he does this purely out of fatherly and divine goodness and mercy, without any merit or worthiness in me; for all which I am in duty bound to thank, praise, serve, and obey him. This is most certainly true.
If God is the only source of help for us, should we not be turning to him and him alone? Instead of turning to people, money, things, psychology, friend’s advice, TV programs, self-help books, the federal government, or even ourselves, would it not be better to turn to the only true helper, and trust Him? Instead of holding on the end of the proverbial rope, should we not place our hand in the hand of the almighty, creator God?
The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand. (Psalm 37:23-24)