Lift Our Eyes

 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 121:1-2 (ESV)

Dusk is coming, but instead of letting it slide through the glass of the windows from my main street apartment, I am drawn to seek more of the sun. I don my down jacket and scarf, slip out the door and put my feet to pavement.

It’s an unusually warm day for this time of year in Wisconsin, so I take advantage of the fleeting weather and head to a tiny park that consists of one small but steep hill.

It’s been a long season full of unanswered questions, loads of waiting and a plethora of uncertainties. I’m tired physically, mentally, and emotionally. There have been times where I’ve prayed and pleaded with God only to get no audible answer, and I’ve felt alone and unheard.

But this week, Psalm 121 has been ringing in my mind. I’ve been drawn to it, read it many times, remember God as Helper and Keeper.

My boots transition from the pavement to patches of grass and snow as I enter the park. All the while, I repeat portions of the Psalm to myself, breath crisp and clear:

I lift my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

The sun’s lowering behind clouds, but there’s enough color left to know there’s a sunset coming. I begin my climb up the hill, which is already slick with packed down snow and a layer of ice. After slipping in my boots that are more for comfort than functionality, I cling to the snow fenceposts and haul myself slowly to the top, where I watch the sky churn raspberry, blazing orange, and soft red as the sun breaks through the clouds. Rays of orange light spike through the charcoal and purple clouds, up to the still-bright robin’s egg blue of the sky. Worship music in my earbuds, I stand with hands outstretched, knowing I’m meeting the God to whom my eyes have lifted. I watch and worship the God who’s spinning colors effortlessly.

My situation doesn’t change or immediately clear up, but as I stand and worship, simply being in His presence helps remind me that He is over all things, that He is the maker of heaven and earth.

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Again, I’m incredibly privileged to be over at Proverbs 31 today. Will you come and learn how we can lift our eyes together to the God who sees and cares? See you there!