Psalm 121 (I Lift My Eyes)

By Jordan Kauflin, Matt Merker, Keith & Kristyn Getty

O my soul, praise the Lord most high
Strong to save, He upholds my life
Forevermore, He will be my light
I lift my eyes up to the Lord most high

Last week I took a spontaneous trip to Round Valley. I set up a little picnic for myself over by the lake and just enjoyed the nature surrounding me. From where I sat, I was able to see a few beautiful hills rolling on the horizon. The hills looked so big and majestic, and I wanted to capture that in a picture. The picture I ended up taking of one of the hills did not do the landscape justice, however. I actually used that picture as the cover photo for today’s Selah Saturday so you can see. It’s a nice picture, but the hill does not look that big, or majestic.

The first thing that comes to mind when I’m looking at beautiful hills is Psalm 121:1 which reads, “I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” To note, some translations use the word “mountain” instead of “hill.” Both are accurate.

I used to read that verse as, “My help comes from the Lord, so I look up to heaven,” as in the mountain or hill represents me looking up to the Lord. And that is true, we should look up to the Lord and look towards heaven in times of trouble. But lately when I think of this Psalm, I have been thinking of the mountain or hill representing the struggles of life, and me looking up to a mountain and saying, “How the heck am I going to climb that?!” And then I remember that God will help me get to the top.

We all must climb up our own metaphorical mountains in this life. Your mountain could be an illness, the death of a loved one, joblessness, homelessness, addiction, or a sin. Most of the time, life is like the rolling hills—just one challenge after another. Sometimes you feel like you are on top of the world and other times you’re walking through the valley of the shadow of death.

Looking at this picture of the small hill at Round Valley, I realize that it’s actually not as big as I had perceived it to be. When I was physically there, in person, this hill seemed a whole lot bigger! But isn’t that how we always look at our struggles? All we see is a mountain in front of us, a structure that can not be moved and so it must be climbed.

Someone from the outside looking in may not perceive what you are going through to be a big deal. But to you it is! Others may look at your mountain and only see a hill. Meanwhile, they have their own mountains that need conquering but, in your eyes, they are only hills.

We can’t judge how other people feel when they are struggling. It doesn’t matter if it’s a spiritual issue, a mental health or emotional issue, or a physical issue, we all perceive and handle things differently. If you have a friend who is struggling to make his way up the mountain, take his hand and walk up with him. “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ” (Galatians 6:2). Be there for him, listen to him, and let him know that you care. Remind him that his help comes from God and that God’s strength will get him to the top.

As you listen to “Psalm 121,” be reminded that help is found in the Lord. His strength will see you through. And when you get to the top, praise him! Give thanks to the Lord for all that he has done to help you get to the top of your mountain. And continue to fix your eyes on him and on heavenly things in anticipation for the day when you will not need to struggle to the top anymore.

I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 121:1

Listen to “Psalm 121 (I Lift My Eyes)” here.