“I lift up my eyes to the hills – from where will my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.”
-Psalm 121:1–2
There’s something honest about the opening of Psalm 121. It begins with a question, not an answer. Where will my help come from? We know that question well. It comes in the middle of the night when our worries are louder than sleep. It comes when we’ve tried every option and still feel powerless. It comes when the world feels overwhelming: wars we cannot seem to end, grief we cannot undo, situations we cannot fix. It’s the question that rises when life feels heavy, when we’ve tried everything in our power and still feel overwhelmed.
The psalmist’s answer shifts the focus: “My help comes from the Lord.” Peace, in this sense, isn’t something we can force into being or manufacture by sheer willpower. It is a gift that flows from God’s presence, a reminder that we are not alone, and that God is steadfast even when life feels unsteady.
But that doesn’t mean we stop seeking peace. Rather, it means our striving for peace is not rooted in our own strength alone. We reach toward peace – within ourselves, in our relationships, and in our world – trusting that God meets us there. Peace is both gift and calling: something we receive and something we extend.
So maybe this week we practice lifting our eyes – away from the weight of what we cannot control – and toward the steady presence of God who keeps us. From that place, we may discover the courage to live more peacefully, and to become bearers of peace for others.
Take-Away Questions
- Where do you most feel the strain of trying to control what is beyond your reach?
- What would it look like to “lift your eyes” in that place and rest in God’s keeping instead?
- What is one way you can share God’s peace with someone else this week?
Let’s pray:
God of peace, when the weight of the world feels too heavy, help us lift our eyes to you. Teach us to rest in your keeping and to share the peace you give with all we meet along the way. AMEN
