Life is full of twists and turns. There are so many joys and sorrows. Our days, months, and years are filled with ups and downs to the point where life feels like a roller coaster. With all of this change, with all of this instability, what should we do? How do we navigate the beauty and the pain? Who can we look to?

Psalm 121 is a passage that has had a powerful influence on my life. I turn to it often to remind me of an all-important truth…God is always present. Read the first 2 verses of this powerful Psalm.

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. Psalm 121:1-2

This passage helps me in moments of triumph,
“My help comes from the Lord.”

This passage helps me when I’m overwhelmed,
 “The Maker of heaven and earth.”

These verses have been a constant reminder that no matter how I feel…throughout the good and the bad…God is present.

Think about that for just a moment. God is ALWAYS present.

When we’re standing on top of the mountain,
rejoicing at the top of our lungs…God is present.

When we’re walking through the valley,
burdened by the demands of life…God is present.

When we’re being productive and accomplishing our goals…God is present.

When the challenges seem insurmountable
and it feels like God has left us…God is present.

How do we know? The passage says, “Lift up my eyes to the mountains.” Wherever we go, we can always look at His creation and remember that our help comes from the “Maker of heaven and earth.”

And if God can make heaven and earth…he deserves credit for the joy in my life and he’s surely qualified to help me with my “impossible struggles.”

That knowledge brings me incredible strength, comfort, and peace. God is capable of helping us through every step of life. After all, he is the Maker of life. God is willing to help us navigate our journey. And no matter what the world or our thoughts tell us, God is present in our lives.

The past few months have been challenging for many of us. And yet, God is present. God is walking beside us and he knows exactly where we are. Beyond that, he can relate to everything we’re going through. He knows what it means to hurt because He took on flesh and bore our pain.

Wherever you are today, remember to lift up your eyes to the mountain. God is present and able to help.

And if you feel like you’re on a rollercoaster that you didn’t cause, that you have no choice but to experience, Jesus is the lap bar that will keep you safe.

In Christ,
Pastor Thomas