Pastor’s Corner: “Where does Your Help Come From?”
Do you feel cautious, worried, fearful—or even panicky? Like many people in our world today where what once seemed predictable in our lives is no longer certain, fear and worry seem to be the norm in our daily routine. As we take in the news of this day in which we live, as we observe the condition of the world around us, as present circumstances tend to unsettle us, it is very easy to become anxious. Many a voice echoes a familiar message of our day, “These are uncertain times we live in.” Uncertainty promotes anxiety. Where does your help come from? When crisis strikes, adversity hits, or sorrow shadows you, where do you go for help? How we answer this question truly reflects the depth of our belief that God is watching and waiting to come to our aid.
Where or who we turn to in times of need shows where we place our trust and belief in. So, where do you look in times of need? Certain people, the internet, yourself, government, etc? When we are fearful, worried or panicked, our instincts kick in. We retreat or run to places that we feel are secure and sure, but in our world today it seems to be difficult to find sure footing anywhere. As believers, if our first instinct is not to turn God, we should probably ask, why? We may be looking around when we should be looking up.
David said in Psalm 121, “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from?”
He doesn’t miss a beat and David answers his own question, “My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip, He who watches over you will not slumber. The Lord watches over you. The Lord will keep you from all harm, He will watch over your life.”
Psalm 46: 1-3 (NIV) – 1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, 3 though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.
Often the enemy of our soul convinces us that God isn’t willing to help us, especially if we’ve been the one to get ourselves into trouble. He convinces us that because we messed up, we don’t deserve God’s help and therefore we have no right to ask Him because we aren’t innocent in the situation. Even if that is the case (most often it is), God still wants us to turn to him. Psalm 91:15 15 He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.
God’s willingness to help us is not determined on whether or not we’re responsible for the trouble we’re experiencing, but rather on His great compassion and mercy towards us. Isaiah 30:18 tells us how God longs to be gracious to us, to rise up and show us compassion. During times of distresses such as sickness, unemployment, and more, like Job there may people who are quick to point fingers at us, as well as say things about God that aren’t true (Job 42:7).
God gives us a very clear picture of how He will respond to us when we turn to Him in the day of trouble, as described in the story of the prodigal son who came to the end of his rope. Having nothing left but his failings and sin, he decided to return home to work as a servant. Luke 15:20, describes his father’s response to his return. “So he got up and went to his father. While he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him.” As well, his father gave him new clothes and accessories, and threw him a party (Luke 15:22, 23), exclaiming, “For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found. So they began to celebrate” (Luke 15:24).
“I lift up eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from?” We can only lift up our eyes when they are open. This means that as the people of God, we are called to guard ourselves from being spiritually lethargic and lukewarm. We need to open our eyes and look up expectantly trusting God will help us.
David triumphantly declares at the end of the Psalm, “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” (vv. 7-8). All believers of every generation can proclaim, “My help comes from the Lord!” No matter what trouble we face in this dark world, God is with us, shining His light into the darkness and providing everything we need for life and godliness. Whatever setbacks, hardships, or evil we encounter, our faithful God will transform these challenges to contribute toward our good (Romans 8:28). All of our days, He is our Helper and the God who sustains our lives (Psalm 54:4).
In His Grace,
Pastor Hamilton