Where Does My Help Come From?
by Jilly Lyon-Taylor
During this time of isolation I have been listening to the news each day to keep in touch with what is happening around the world. It is important to know what is going on, in order to pray, and also in order to be able to follow whatever guidelines are being issued by the Government. However, if our focus is just on what is being reported, including every ‘worst case scenario’, it is easy for fear to creep in.
We need to be like the Psalmist in today’s verse, who lifts his focus and asks himself: ‘Where does my help come from?’ The answer for him, and for us, is that our help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. Our help does not come from our National Health Service, good though it is. Our protection does not come from the use of masks, gloves and hand-washing, or from ‘social distancing’, sensible though these measures are (and of course we need to comply with the advice given by the authorities). But our help comes from the LORD, and our trust needs to be in Him!
When Moses sent leaders from each of the tribes of Israel to spy out the Promised Land (Numbers 13), ten of them returned with a bad report. They were full of fear because their focus was on all the negatives. All they could see were the fortified cities and the strength and size of the potential enemies. Joshua and Caleb, however, knew their God and what He had promised them. They knew that with Him they would be protected and would be able to conquer their enemies. Their trust was in the right place!
In the Good News Bible, Psalm 62:1b-2 is translated: “I depend on Him [God] alone. He alone protects and saves me; he is my defender ....” What about us? Where is our trust? Have we allowed fear to creep in and to rob us of our faith in God to keep us safe? Where does our help come from? Let us lift our eyes, not to the hills, but to the Maker of heaven and earth, who is able to protect us and keep us safe.
Prayer: Lord, thank You that my help comes from You, and You have promised that if I dwell in Your shelter You will keep me safe. Help me to continue to trust in You and not to allow fear to come near me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jilly Lyon-Taylor is part of the Leadership Team at Ellel Pierrepont. She worked in publishing and then with children in Hong Kong before concentrating on being a full-time mother and serving in the local church. Her desire to see people healed led her to the Luke Nine Eleven Training Scheme(NETS) at Pierrepont, and now she teaches and ministers there.
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