Miriam Thurlow writes:

Over the last couple of weeks, I have kept being drawn to Psalm 121. Yes it is an encouragement but not just a pat on the back; it is an encouragement to keep going and keep moving.

The Psalm opens with ‘I lift my eyes to the hills, for where does my help come from’ and then immediately answers this question with ‘my help comes from the Lord who made heaven and earth’. The psalmist knows the hills do not hold the answers, that God is the true one who can provide. This is an amazing truth, but it also raises a challenge for us: what are the hills we are looking to for help? Can we confidently, like the psalmist, say my help comes from the Lord?

Psalm 121 continues to teach us why our help comes from the Lord by introducing God as our guardian. God promises to not let our foot slip on tricky paths. But notice it doesn’t say God keeps us from walking treacherous or narrow paths, instead He promises to protect our feet from slipping as we walk those paths. We are then reminded that God does not sleep, He doesn’t even slumber. He is also our place of refreshment and protection. He watches over our whole lives. Psalm 121 ends with a comprehensive promise that God is with us always. He watches over our coming and going, both now and forever.

So yes, this psalm is an encouragement, but not that we might stay still. It is and encouragement so we might keep moving

• Because God is where our help comes from.

• Because God watches over us and does not sleep nor slumber.

• Because God is our place of refreshment and protection.

• Because God is always with us.

• Therefore, we can keep going, keep following Jesus on the way.

Reverend Miriam Thurlow – Curate CCBN