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)

I don’t remember when I first read Psalm 121. I was probably a teenager, reading through the Book of Psalms for the first time. The psalms have always brought comfort, especially as I learned the meaning behind many of them. They are full of emotion, praise, hope, lament, requests for vengeance, and longing for a better tomorrow.

After my divorce many years ago, I began to notice Bible verses about God’s provision and protection—verses like Isaiah 40:10, Joshua 1:6–9, and Deuteronomy 31:6. These verses instruct me to have courage, because God is with me and will not fail me. For someone with a timid nature, like me, these verses became a lifeline during a period of change and devastation. They are no less so today—my circumstances may be different, but the world around us is always changing, often devolving into chaos beyond our control. These verses remind me that I do not face these disruptions alone.

And then there was Psalm 121 (ESV):

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.

He will not let your foot be moved;

he who keeps you will not slumber.

Behold, he who keeps Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord is your keeper;

the Lord is your shade on your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life.

The Lord will keep

your going out and your coming in

from this time forth and forevermore.

 

Again, a reminder that I’m not alone, that I don’t have to face things—difficult or otherwise—on my own.

Psalm 121 is one of the Psalms of Ascent, a grouping of psalms from 120–134 that are also called Pilgrim Songs because Jews traveling to Jerusalem for annual festivals traditionally sang these songs on the uphill road (or ascent) to the city. Some scholars believe that King David wrote Psalm 121, along with 122, 124, 131, 133, and that his son, Solomon, wrote Psalm 127. The rest were written by anonymous authors.

When I recite this psalm, I can feel my spirit rise—“ascend,” if you will—to meet God. It’s an original worship song, full of praise for a God who cares for his people. When I’m feeling down or frustrated, this psalm reminds me that God is with me—all I have to do is lift my eyes and look for him. When I’m feeling joyful, this psalm helps me find the words to praise my God who never leaves.

Do you have a favorite psalm or verse that you like to recite when your spirit needs a lift? Please share in the comments!

Dear Jesus, thank you for these words of old that lift my spirits and give you the praise you deserve. Thank you for being there for me, no matter what. Amen.