Lift My Eyes
I have heard many times people say something to the effect of, “If you are not in a storm or trial now, get ready because one is coming.”
This has been a year of illness related trials. My mother was hospitalized last month with heart issues. Thankfully, her condition was treatable and she is fine now. My husband is having internal issues and will require a colonoscopy to make sure nothing other than flares from Diverticulitis are causing his pains. My Father-in-Law was hospitalized earlier this year with MRSA and Sepsis. While both were extremely serious, he completed antibiotic treatment but within four days of completion, the MRSA was back. The doctors are stumped as to the source of origination and believe his pacemaker and the leads may contain the MRSA and now must be removed. He has had his pacemaker for several years making this a very tricky and dangerous operation. Right now, we are anxiously awaiting word from the surgery.
I know that our family is not the only ones facing storms and life struggles. I realize too that these trials are minor compared to what others are going through. So many friends are facing cancer, financial issues, marriage issues and other various challenging circumstances. Many of you are probably following Mark Hall’s (Casting Crowns) own struggle with cancer and surgery on his kidney.
On the way to church Sunday, I was reading an update on Mark’s progress on Facebook. Thinking about Mark Hall as well as my family and friends who are facing storms, I began to think about the popular Casting Crowns song, “Praise You In This Storm.” I came home and looked up the Psalm from which the song came from. I want to share the entire Psalm here:
A Song of Ascents.
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.
I thought it was such a beautiful Psalm to read in the midst of a trial.
Curiously, I looked up the notes in my ESV Bible and I loved what it said:
This psalm seems to be intended to instill confidence in those making the pilgrimage to Jerusalem to worship (see note on Psalm 120 for the Songs of Ascents). The successful journey becomes a parable for the whole of one’s life, in which the faithful can be confident of God’s tireless care.
God is tireless in his care for us. Whatever our trials, whatever our stresses, whatever our pain, whatever our tears – He hears them, he cares and He will be with us. I admit it is very hard to not panic over my Father-In-Law’s situation. It is hard to try not to worry about the surgery and the complications that could come with that. Yet, I’m trusting Jesus to take care of the situation.
God cares for you too. He cares for your trials and storms. He is there for you as well.
Charles Spurgeon says, “As for His failing you, never dream of it — hate the thought of it. The God who has been sufficient until now, should be trusted to the end.”
Lift your eyes up from the hill. Your help comes from the Lord. He is the maker of heaven and earth. He is the living God. He will provide for your needs, storms, trials and tears.
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Thank you for your transparency. Your genuine faith is inspiring. Praying for your family!
I am so sorry, Dana that your family is facing health issues. My mom is not well either, and it hurts to be so far away.
I love that Psalm and I recite it often in my head.
Hugs!