Before I left today, Mom gave me a small notebook of encouragement. The first bit of encouragement she wrote to me came from Psalm 121, a song of ascent. Verses 1-2:
"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."
As I'm beginning this new semester in Costa Rica, I am so uplifted and inspired by this psalm of David. I remember when and where we read this particular psalm during Wheaton in the Holy Lands. We were standing at the top of the "City of David" looking all around us to the hills surrounding Jerusalem. Our professor gave us insight into this psalm. As David looked up to the hills, he might have seen enemy soldiers about to attack or he may have just felt the vulnerability and uncertainty of being on lower ground. Thus, as he looked up into his greatest fears, he turned to the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth, for help. Only God could protect David from his enemies and lead him safely through the unknown. Here's a little video from our Holy Lands trip at the place:
While I am super excited to be in Costa Rica and to begin this semester, I also can give into thoughts of self-doubt, fear of the unknown, and anxiety over being in an extremely new context. When I start to look up to the hills of the unknown around me, rather than dwell on my fears and anxieties, I can lift my eyes and my prayers to God. The Lord is always with me. When I put my trust in Him, such a beautiful thing happens- each moment is filled with the joy of the Lord and the peace that passes understanding! I thank God for his constant and loving presence that never leaves me. When I lift up my eyes to the hills, I hold onto the truth that my help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth!
"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."
As I'm beginning this new semester in Costa Rica, I am so uplifted and inspired by this psalm of David. I remember when and where we read this particular psalm during Wheaton in the Holy Lands. We were standing at the top of the "City of David" looking all around us to the hills surrounding Jerusalem. Our professor gave us insight into this psalm. As David looked up to the hills, he might have seen enemy soldiers about to attack or he may have just felt the vulnerability and uncertainty of being on lower ground. Thus, as he looked up into his greatest fears, he turned to the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth, for help. Only God could protect David from his enemies and lead him safely through the unknown. Here's a little video from our Holy Lands trip at the place:
While I am super excited to be in Costa Rica and to begin this semester, I also can give into thoughts of self-doubt, fear of the unknown, and anxiety over being in an extremely new context. When I start to look up to the hills of the unknown around me, rather than dwell on my fears and anxieties, I can lift my eyes and my prayers to God. The Lord is always with me. When I put my trust in Him, such a beautiful thing happens- each moment is filled with the joy of the Lord and the peace that passes understanding! I thank God for his constant and loving presence that never leaves me. When I lift up my eyes to the hills, I hold onto the truth that my help comes from the Lord, the maker of heaven and earth!
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