With a heavy heart and a restless spirit, I found myself wondering…why? I couldn’t pinpoint the specific cause for my distress. And yet, all around me the world continued to spin out of control.

My heart breaks over situations both near and far:

• Several close friends lost loved ones.
• Others dealt with non-Covid related health scares.
• Our local hospital began to only accept patients who arrive in ambulances due to the high number of Covid cases.
• The debate over the Covid vaccines continued to polarize our country.
• We recognized the 20th anniversary of 9-11. Pictures, images, and transcripts of phone calls from that day all reminded me of the evil which resides in our fallen world.

Looking at that list, why wouldn’t my heart be heavy, and my spirit restless?

At some point this week, the words from Psalm 121 came to mind. Known as a psalm of ascent, this would be sung by the Israelites as they traveled to Jerusalem for one of their religious festivals. Nestled in its verses I found the message needed to heal my heart and quiet my spirit.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
     where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,
     the Maker of heaven and earth. (Psalm 121:1-2 NIV)

When the psalmist looked to the mountains, some Biblical scholars understand this to be out of anxiety. Thieves and gangs often hid in the mountains along the path, waiting for an opportune time to attack travelers. This is the scene described in the Parable Of The Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). Other scholars believe the psalmist looked to the mountain on which Jerusalem stood.

In the first scenario, the psalmist sought protection from perceived, but perhaps yet unseen, dangers. The second understanding shows the psalmist seeking help and protection as the pilgrims traveled toward their final destination.

In either case, they turn to the Lord, described as the Maker of heaven and earth. With His words, God formed the heavens and the earth, and created life. This is the One we can turn to for protection, not only from hidden dangers, but also for our journey to our final destination ~ eternal life with Him.

He will not let your foot slip—
     he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel
     will neither slumber nor sleep. (Psalm 121:3-4 NIV)

In the first two verses, the psalmist used the Hebrew word, ezer, which is translated as help or helper. But beginning in verse three, the psalmist switched to the Hebrew word, samar, which can be translated as keep or watch. It conveys the idea of guarding or caring for someone and gives the assurance of protection.

The Lord will not let our feet slip. On their pilgrimage the Israelites could have easily lost their footing. They walked uphill on uneven and unpaved paths. The Lord watched over them and made sure their feet didn’t slip. Similarly, Christ assures us our footing is secure. We walk in His grace, and He will not let us fall from it.

Even more comforting, the Lord makes Himself available to us 24/7. In these troubled times, anxious thoughts tend to disrupt my sleep. When I find myself awake at night, I’ve learned to take that time to pray to the One who never slumbers or sleeps.

The Lord watches over you—
     the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,
     nor the moon by night. (Psalm 121:5-6 NIV)

For the Israelites traveling to Jerusalem, the oppressive desert sun posed a serious health threat, and any shade brought relief. In this passage, the Lord promises to be the Israelites’ relief, and to protect them day and night from all danger. Jesus, as our Good Shepherd, promises to care for us and protect us from the evil one (John 10:27-28)

The Lord will keep you from all harm—
     he will watch over your life;

the Lord will watch over your coming and going
     both now and forevermore. (Psalm 121:7-8 NIV)

The Hebrew word translated as harm, ra, can refer to an entire spectrum of woes, from mildly harmful to absolute evil. The Hebrew word for life, nepes, can mean soul or life. The psalmist recognized the Lord protects the core of our being, our very soul, from all harm. In the final two verses, the psalmist concluded the Lord watches over us both in this life, and the one to come.

The world may continue to spin out of control. The Lord doesn’t promise us a life free from trouble. But He does promise to watch over us, to help us, and to protect our eternal soul. No matter where we are in our journey, I pray we can turn to the Maker of heaven and earth for our help and protection.