The Lodestar

On his pilgrimage to Jerusalem, the psalmist does not look to the hills expecting help to descend from them. Instead, he lifts his eyes and sees the mountains ahead—formidable, unyielding, and daunting. They are not sources of comfort, but reminders of the challenges ahead.

For those journeying from east of the Jordan River through the plains of Moab, the approach to Jerusalem meant walking through the rugged, limestone ridges of the Judean hills. These narrow paths and steep climbs were especially intimidating for first-time pilgrims. They faced not just physical exertion but the mental burden of the unknown that waited on the other side of those towering ridges.

But the psalmist does not despair. As he gazes at the mountains, he poses a deeply human question: "Where does my help come from?" (Psalm 121:1). And then he answers it with a powerful declaration of faith: “My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:2).

This is not the faith that ignores reality—it is the faith that sees beyond it. The psalmist does not fixate on the hills as obstacles but acknowledges the One who formed them. Surely, if God created the mountains, he could guide us over them.

Faith, at its core, recognises the Creator behind every challenge. It trusts that there is no difficulty placed before us that He cannot help us overcome. We are not promised an easy journey, but we are assured of God’s unwavering presence and power.

As this Gospel song so beautifully affirms:

“For the God on the mountain is still God in the valley. When things go wrong, He’ll make them right. And the God of the good times is still God in the bad times. The God of the day is still God in the night.”

So, when the road ahead looks steep and uncertain, do not let the mountains overwhelm you. Look beyond them. Fix your eyes not on the hurdles, but on the One who is your help, keeper, and strength.

Lift your eyes. The Maker of heaven and earth walks with you.