I Thought You'd Never Ask

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.

           Psalm 121. 1-2

I have hiked enough to know

that there are always surprises

        around the next bend,

yet another slope

         or stronger incline.

The really steep ascents

      before us are not meant

          to defeat us, 

but for us to realize

  from Whom 

  our strength comes.

God does not just send help,

or stand far off,

     watching us struggle.

He is our help.

When we lift our eyes to Him,

     He guides us through.

We may not even be able

     to see the summit,

but can fully know His Presence

     along the way.

Where is our help?

God whispers,

    "I thought you'd never ask."

O LORD,

Help!

We are stuck on the side 

   of a steep mountain,

not able to go either up

                or down.

Don't just show up, O God.

Show us

      how to walk with You

      through this.

There is a different outcome

  to these circumstances,

and it is not just at the top.

Soften our hearts,

change our minds,

and re-tie our hiking shoes,

that we may respond,

approach and navigate

    the really hard stuff.

And seize Your courage

   to take another step today.

Our help comes from You,

   Creator of the universe.

Doesn't get any better than that.