Where Are You Looking?

Jamie Hart   -  

In this unprecedented time of uncertainty, let me pose a question for all of us to consider…⠀

Where are you looking? ⠀

The gravitational pull is to give our attention to the 24 hour news cycle, or to the endless scroll of social media, or binging the latest show, or any number of things. Some of these things create more anxiousness. Some of them are an attempt to numb ourselves to the anxiousness we feel. ⠀

But there is a better option. ⠀

Perhaps this time, this season, is an opportunity for us to see our life as a pilgrimage. As a journey. Full of twists and turns, and unexpected obstacles. And yet, it’s all leading somewhere…or rather, it’s all leading us to someone.⠀

This is what Psalm 121 is about. It’s referred to as a song of ascent and it can serve as a parable for our lives. It recounts the people of Israel journeying toward Jerusalem for worship. And as they journeyed toward the temple, toward the presence of God, they encountered difficult and dangerous stretches of territory. It would have been so tempting to only see the circumstances. To only see the treacherous landscape.⠀

It’s in this context that the psalmist begins posing a question. It’s a way of jolting us all out of the immanent and toward the transcendent. To focus on our God who is ruling and reigning. May you be encouraged to look, see and rest in the God who is your helper, creator, sustainer, keeper, and more. ⠀

1 I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? ⠀
2 My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. ⠀
3 He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. ⠀
4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. ⠀
5 The LORD is your keeper; the LORD is your shade on your right hand. ⠀
6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. ⠀
7 The LORD will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. ⠀
8 The LORD will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore. – Psalms 121