Where Does My Help Come From? Psalm 121

Would you rather listen than read? Listen here.

Where does my help come from? From the Maker of Heaven and Earth. How amazing is that? Psalm 121 tells us how He walks through challenges with us and steadies us. It is in the valley where we get to see Him move. I wrote this during my battle with Lyme disease and Bartonella. You can read about my healing here.

A Tick Bite

One thing I long for is the feeling of health. By this I mean I loved my long runs when training for marathons. I loved the camaraderie of running with friends and conquering goals. I would come home after a run, drink a protein shake full of berries, and rest. Then I would carry on with the day’s activities while feeling great.

During the ten years of running consistently, I felt strong, fit, and healthy. Little did I know that a few of the aches and pains that were creeping in, which I assumed were from running, were from a tick bite.

The full effect of that bite did not take over until several years later. I was in such great shape that my body kept the invaders at bay. Five years ago, I went to a health clinic to get vaccinated for a trip to the Middle East. They gave me five vaccines in one day, and this overloaded my immune system.

What my body once held under wraps took over. My doctor diagnosed me with Lyme disease and Babesia. To make a long story short, years of health issues ensued, and many days of wondering if I would win the battle. You can read more of these challenges below.

Miraculous Healing

Then one day I experienced that hand of God come down and touch my body. From that moment on, I experienced a dramatic turn for the better from all symptoms of Babesia. There were a couple of bumps along the road, but I rejoiced in how far I had come.

If you read any of my posts here on my blog, you will see the victories. I climbed to Saddle Peak. A peak I thought I would only dream of reaching. There were many other triumphs along the way. In October, I even started running again. Not marathon training by any means, but it was a start.

As fall crept in, the running got harder. Then the walking got harder, and then walking to the office of the school where I worked got harder. I connected with my doctor, and he did more tests, and another disease revealed its ugly face.

When one is bitten by a tick, the tick holds a variety of bacteria and parasites. They carry a range of over 300 infections. Most people who get Lyme disease will also contract one or two other infections as well.

Bartonella

Yesterday, the most recent bloodwork revealed a new infection that did not show up in previous tests (testing for these diseases is still a work in progress and has come a long way since my initial testing, or I got bit again). I tested positive for Bartonella aka Cat Scratch Fever. Ugh!

There are no words for the feelings of disappointment that has overwhelmed me. The flood of emotions that has come and gone is indescribable. To be completely honest, I have screamed, cried, and asked God, haven’t I had my turn?

But God…

God has provided me with an amazing group of friends. I saw them after receiving the diagnosis, and their prayers, support, and love brought an immense amount of comfort. Then, the following morning, as I read through my reading for the Reflecting The Son series (The Bible In A Year), I got to Psalm 121. I love how God has timed the scriptures to be exactly what I need, when I need it.

I encourage you to read the entire psalm through before continuing. You can read Psalm 121:1-8 here. The following verses all come from the NIV.

Where Does My Help Come From?

“I lift up my eyes to the mountain — where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Psalm 121:1-2 NIV

Let that sink in for a moment. The Maker of Heaven and Earth is our helper. In moments like now, when nothing feels right and out of control, God is still present. He still reigns. His Spirit still lives within me and most of all, His promises are still true.

My help comes from the Lord. He never said no to those who asked for healing, and I know He will heal me again. I just have to keep asking. I don’t want to go through this again, but I sure won’t mind experiencing His power again. Let’s just pray it comes sooner than later.

He Will Not Let Your Foot Slip

“He will not let your foot slip — he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.”

Psalm 121:3-4

Again, awesome! I don’t have to worry. The journey might be hard, but He’s got me. I think of this first stanza as hiking. Do you like to hike? I sure do. There are some hikes around where I live that have areas with lots of gravel. When you walk down the trail and you’re tired, slipping often occurs. I walk with hiking sticks, and they have caught me more times than I can count.

I imagine God walking along with us and cradling His hand under our elbow, ready to catch us before we fall. Isn’t that a beautiful picture? He walks the journey with us, catching us, holding us up, and encouraging us to keep taking the next step.

I know He is like this on all our journeys. Whether you are on a healing journey, going through a divorce, have experienced the loss of a loved one, or are going through a challenging trial, He is with us. He keeps walking, holding us upright and strengthening us in Him.

I also love that He guards us in our sleep. We are most vulnerable while we sleep, but we do not need to fear. He stands guard.

The Lord Watches Over You

“The Lord watches over you — the Lord is your shade at your right hand; the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.”

Psalm 121:5-6

I hope these words touch your heart as much as they do mine. Not only does God watch over us while we sleep, but all the time. This image of Him as our shade is extraordinary. Shade brings relief. When you stand in the bright sun, you squint, which alters your vision and your focus turns from what is before you to finding shade.

He is our relief, our shade. He provides a shelter that blocks the intensity of the sun and allows us to see clearly. When I am in the middle of a battle, I find it hard to see clearly. I see life through the pain or struggle I am in. When God comes in and provides the shade, I can see past the hardship and focus more on Him.

The Lord Will Keep You From All Harm

“The Lord will keep you from all harm — he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.”

Psalm 121:7-8

I believe God’s intent is to protect us from all harm. He does not find joy in watching us suffer. We live on this side of the fall. A world filled with sin and death. This is not the world He designed for us, but the one we find ourselves in. While we are here, He does not leave us nor forsake us (1 Kings 8:57). We have Him with us. He is not just with us in the good times or in the hard times; He is with us now and forevermore.

I hope this brings you peace as much as it does me. I want to encourage you with whatever you are facing to lean into Him. Know He is right behind you, ready to catch you if you stumble.

Community Group

I pray you have community. A group of people who support you in your trials. I have a great community here that I have relied on in some of my hardest times. I have also created an online community for any of you who might be searching for something more. This amazing group of ladies is a click away when any of us need prayer, have a Bible question, or just want to share something on our mind. Check out the community here.

Keep Knocking

Keep asking God to do what He says He will do. I know His intent is for each of us to walk in complete wholeness. I will continue to ask until He restores my body. Whatever struggle you are going through, I join you in praying for the miraculous. For God to restore what has been lost. I can’t wait to hear your testimony.