my help comes from the Lord ...

¹ I look up to the mountains—
does my help come from there?
² My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth!
³ He will not let you stumble;
the one who watches over you will not slumber.
⁴ Indeed, he who watches over Israel
never slumbers or sleeps.
⁵ The Lord himself watches over you!
The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.
⁶ The sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon at night.
⁷ The Lord keeps you from all harm
and watches over your life.
⁸ The Lord keeps watch over you as you come and go,
both now and forever.

Psalm 121 (NLT)

This was a picture I shot from my phone when we were in Colorado this SUMMER!!  My brother and I rented some spikes and some poles and hiked up through lots of snow to this view ... In June!  It was a crazy hike but we loved it!  And I could not quit marveling the whole trip at the majesty and beauty of the mountains and the amazingness of our Creator God ... or as the Psalmist said, the maker of Heaven and Earth!

I'm venturing back through Beth Moore's Stepping Up study that takes us through the Psalms of Ascent.  Psalm 121 is the one she challenges us to memorize in this journey and it is taking me back to a couple of years ago when I first worked through these Psalms ... songs for travellers or pilgrims.  So crazy to find myself and my packed out car back in this study these days.

Psalm 121 is resonating with my very fearful heart these days.  I don't know if it's change or what, but the past few months, I've struggled hard with fear ... like struggled in the way that keeps you awake for hours at night, that makes your heart race, that lets you doubt and almost paralyzes you.  Fear about selling/renting my house, where to live in Augusta, how to budget to have expenses both places, the timeline of how that will all work out, fear of being alone, fear of losing family, fear of moving from friends, fear of changing jobs, fear of the future, fear of never getting married, fear of letting people down, of dealing with situations I don't know how to handle ... yeh, there's enough fear there for many sleepless nights!!  I have to will myself to NOT think when I wake up in the middle of the night because once I start, there are so many things out of my control that I will be awake the rest of the night ... and I'm getting too tired for that!

God has always provided.  I do not doubt His goodness or His ability.  I am trying hard not to lean on my own understanding though ... and trying hard not to depend on my own timetable.  I know God is at work and He has already provided in amazing ways ... but there is still so much to trust Him for. 

How comforting to know this truth:
1. He is powerful.
2. He is good.
3. He is not withholding anything good from me.
4. He is watching over me and protecting me (even from bad decisions and fearful thoughts).
5. He does not slumber - He's not gonna miss my needing Him.
6. He will get the glory!
7. He keeps me from ALL harm.
8. I can trust Him even when I don't understand all He is doing.
9. He is my help.
10. I am not alone.  ever.