Mission Venture Ministries

“My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” (Psalm 121:2) 

Where does our help come from? To whom do we turn to in time of distress? Today, many look for help from friends, family, finance, etc., but lifting your eyes to anyone but Jesus removes our focus from the only One who is our help. 

When the psalmist presents the question, “Where does my help come from?” he trusted that God the Creator was tirelessly watching over him and protecting him. He knew the help he longed for would come from the Lord because He: “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). 

Sadly, the human tendency is to look for help in all the wrong places. Generally we try to solve our problems in our own strength or according to the wisdom of the world. Many phone their parents when they need someone to bail them out. Others look to unbelieving friends to satisfy the longing in their soul. Others become addicted to their careers to seek success and self-esteem and some turn to drugs and alcohol to fill the emptiness inside. 

As we see many attempt to find happiness by experimenting with everything this world offers. But all these solutions do not work, because, what we need most is to reach out to the Lord and ask Him for help, “Help me, Lord my God; save me according to your unfailing love” (Psalm 109:26). 

Like the prophet Isaiah, we can stand firm knowing where our help comes from, or better from Whom it comes from: “Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced” (Isaiah 50:7). 

The psalmist affirms, “The Lord watches over you—the Lord is your shade at your right hand” (Psalm 121:5). No matter what we face, day or night, the Lord stands over us as a protective shield. Through every trial and storm, God is our constant shelter and refuge (Psalm 46:1; Psalm 91; Proverbs 18:10). 

Directing our eyes toward God symbolizes our complete trust and reliance on Him: “But my eyes are toward you, O God, my Lord; in you I seek refuge; leave me not defenseless!” (Psalm 141:8). And King David acknowledged “My eyes are ever on the Lord, for only He will release my feet from the snare” (Psalm 25:15). The writer of Hebrews taught us to keep on the course and finish the race of the Christian life by “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith” (Hebrews 12:2). 

Jerusalem was the center of ancient Jewish worship and is located high upon a mountain. As a worshiper traveled there approaching Jerusalem, the pilgrim most likely declared, “I lift up my eyes to the mountains,” the place where God dwells since the Ark of the Covenant was located in the most holy place of the temple where the Shekhinah glory dwelt. 

Scripture frequently refers to the heights of Jerusalem as the holy “Mountain of the Lord” where God dwells (Zechariah 8:3; Isaiah 27:13). One psalmist describes Jerusalem as “the city of our God, which sits on His holy mountain! It is high and magnificent; the whole earth rejoices to see it! Mount Zion, the holy mountain, is the city of the great King!” (Psalm 48:1–2). 

“I lift my eyes to the hills” was the worshiper’s declaration of trust and dependence upon God for help. He was going to meet with the Lord and offer sacrifices of praise because the Lord his God, Creator of the universe, was his singular source of help. From the elevated place of His holy presence, God would grant assistance and deliverance: “I call out to the Lord, and He answers me from His holy mountain” (Psalm 3:4). From His sacred dwelling place, the Lord would offer everlasting security: “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds His people both now and forevermore” (Psalm 125:2). 

Godly friends and family members should always point the distressed back to what the Bible teaches and instructs. Lifting our eyes toward God is a biblical image of prayer as we see when a great multitude of enemies came against Jehoshaphat and he prayed to the Lord, “We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you” (2 Chronicles 20:12). 

Once we are born again, the Holy Spirit lives in us and He is there to lead us and to give us discernment on how to proceed on what we should do. 

Therefore, if anyone asks you, “Where does my help come from?” You can offer them this remarkable assurance; since at all times, no matter where you go, and for as long as you live, the Bible declares, “Your help comes from the Lord!” (Psalm 121:2). 

So always remember that “Blessed are all who take refuge in Him” (Psalm 2:12) because “the Lord will rescue His servants” (Psalm 34:22).

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