Read the Psalm

When disoriented, we look for comfort. We look for something that will lead us to being safe, seen, soothed, and secure. In the distress, we become aware of our need for this kind of help. Flowing from the prayer of Psalm 120, the psalmist now prays: “I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?” This is a critical question that we have to engage on the journey toward home.

In the Old Testament context, hills symbolized strength and protection. However, if you were journeying through the desert, the hills were also a place where thieves might be – awaiting travelers in the valley below. Cities were built on hills for protection. A pilgrim, on the journey, would have been vulnerable, and therefore looked for safety and strength. Specifically, this particular looks to the hills seems to be a look to the hills of Jerusalem – the house of the Lord. The psalmist does indeed trust that their help and comfort is from the Lord, but this requires asking the question.

In asking the question (“from where does my help come?”), we are wise not to simply give lip service to the Lord being the one but also ask where we are tempted to look. From Psalm 120, we see that typical places to look are war and deceit. Both of these are self-protective strategies. When feeling threatened, we may look to fight and defend ourselves. When in distress, we may lie to protect ourselves … perhaps bending the truth to avoid conflict. The classic reactions are fight or flight are reflected here. 

If we desire for the Lord to be the one who is our comfort, we are compelled to work through letting go of our old strategies for finding comfort and strength. What is it for you? In what ways are you tempted to self-protect instead of finding your help (comfort) in the Lord? You may find your self-protective strategies in one or more of the following: perfectionism, people pleasing, success, insight, aggression, knowledge, control, numbing, or withdrawal. These may be turned inward or outward.

These self-protective strategies make sense to us … they may have even worked on some level. We understand them.

A familiar passage in Proverbs 3 sheds light on our temptation in times of disorientation. “Do not lean on your own understanding.” (verse 5a) The first part of the verse encourages: “Trust in the Lord.” How? Do not learn on what makes sense to you. Then, “in all your ways acknowledge Him.” How do we acknowledge Him in all our ways? First, we trust that He is involved in all things as the maker of heaven and earth. Second, we acknowledge by asking: God, how are you in this? What are you doing?

Rather than rushing to our home-made remedies, we stop. We pause. We wait as we let go of those self-protective actions, and ask for help. In this space, we feel a vulnerability that opens us to the help or the Lord. We might even say that as we let go, we are opening ourselves to the Holy Spirit. Jesus called the Holy Spirit the helper (cf. John 14:26). So, as we let go of what has made sense to use in the past, we are positioned to put our trust in Him. 

We find a specific prayer of trust in verse 3: “You, O Lord, will not allow me to stumble, and you will not sleep on me.” All of the places we go for help are behaviors we believe, on some level, will protect us and keep us safe. Trusting in the Lord for this is a recognition of God’s love for us, that He does not take His eyes off of us. Wherever we find ourselves, He is present, watching and guarding us. 

Therese of Liseaux wrote this as a young woman in the early part of the 20^th century: “For me, prayer is a surge of the heart; it is a simple look turned toward heaven, it is a cry of recognition and of love, embracing both trial and joy.”

Will you look to heaven, as you release those self-protective behaviors that have always made sense on some level? In the vulnerability you feel, you will encounter the Helper.

Reflection questions: Lord, how are you with me in my present circumstance? How are you loving me and helping me? Give me eyes to see your help more strongly than I see my old ways of reacting to distress.

Prayer: Lord, I have ways of reacting that make sense to me. Forgive me for reacting with my self-protective strategies. Help me to response in trust … knowing that are in all my ways. Amen.