Image from a photo by Eradio Valverde, foothills north of Albuquerque, 2013
Just Look Beyond the Challenges to Christ
From the beloved Psalm 121: 1 I lift up my eyes to the hills— from where will 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 He who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. 5 The Lord is your keeper; the Lord is your shade at your right hand. 6 The sun shall not strike you by day, nor the moon by night. 7The 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 on and forevermore.
Imagine awakening today to look out your window and seeing your enemy awakening your departure. You blink and squint your eyes, making sure your glasses are on, or that your vision is clear, but sure enough, there standing on your mountain is that who would love nothing but to ruin your day and your life. Come to think of it, end your life might not be far from the truth of this enemy. King David more than likely wrote this psalm as he had done the same. Looking out from his tent while in battle, he saw that he was surrounded. His enemy used the dark of night to come and encamp around his camp. But David's secret of strength should be ours as well; David looked higher than the enemy to where our source of help is, the Heavens. This beautiful psalm that has been read many a time at someone's beside before, during or after surgery, during recovery, during difficult challenges of our day, had a profound teaching of truth for the Christian, just look beyond the challenges to Christ. David knew that an army formed against him was coming up not only against him and his army, but also against the One who made all things. God's strength to create all things is enough to keep all things. A steady foothold is not easily moved by anything or anyone that tries to outdo God. Even the challenges that come in the darkness of night come against the never-sleeping God of our strength.
David knew, and we should know, that the God who called and kept and blessed Israel, is also our God. And He is a God of no sleep. God does not know weariness like we humans; God seeks not to slumber nor sleep. God knows to protect and watch over us, if we so ask. God overpowers even the brightness of the noonday sun or the moonlight sky. If we seek to be next to God, we will not come near evil and we will be blessed by God in this life and find that which blesses eternally in the next.
So, who's on the mountain near your heart? Is it illness? It can be defeated! Is it doubt? Likewise, easy for God if we turn it over to Him. Is it fear? Let's see, Creator strength versus human made? Which lasts forever? Loneliness? God's with you. Just make the list and look beyond it to the real source of our help. These days of Lent are teaching days and we seek to learn as much about God as we already do about ourselves, knowing that God is greater and in God we find what we need. Even that which we think we don't need.
God is great. God is good.
PRAYER: Loving God, Creator of all things, create in my heart a new spirit of trust and hope. Lord, help me look beyond the challenges of this day and all days, to You and what You offer for me. Make me more than a conqueror in all things that come against me. This I pray in the name of He who overcame all things, even sin and death, Jesus my Lord, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!
Eradio Valverde
