Where Does My Help Come From?
So many times, before I truly gave my life to the Lord and pursued a relationship with Him, I felt His wooing and heard His calling…I just didn’t understand what it all meant at the time. Even after I gave my life to the Lord, I felt Him going ahead of me, paving the way or preparing my heart, opening my eyes to some new aspect of His character knowing that I was going to need it in the days to come.
One of those times was in college. I encountered a situation that wrenched my heart, and one day, with my heart hurting and torn, I went into the prayer room at the end of the hallway in the second floor of my dorm and bemoaned the circumstance and cried to the Lord. In the tenderness of the moment, the Lord very clearly led me to a passage of scripture that did not necessarily solve the issue at hand, but He so very deeply impressed the passage of scripture into my heart, embedding and imprinting it, that I knew it had significance to my life and that I needed to pay attention:
“I lift up my eyes to the mountains—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. 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. 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. 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
The Father knew that the situation I was heartbroken over was of no ultimate or great consequence to my life. Instead of indulging my petty pleas, He gently redirected me and guided me to this passage. He was more concerned with growing my knowledge of Him, my relationship with HIM, my reliance upon Him, than giving way to a circumstance that (in hindsight) would be over before it ever truly got started.
So many times I have clung to this passage and found such profound comfort in it over the years. The Holy Spirit has reminded me of it again and again. And how many times has my heart recited these words?: “Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.” He will not let my foot slip… He will watch over my life—forever… I even have this passage posted on the wall next to my desk at school to remind me that I am ALWAYS in the center of His hands.
Today, the Lord may not give you the answer you are looking for in a circumstance or situation. It may be because He knows that what you actually need is NOT what you are asking for. If He instead draws you to Himself and reveals more of His character to you…receive it. The Father is GRACIOUS and LOVING and will always give you what you need even if it is not what you want.
Katie Botello
FBC Aztec Member