One of the most uplifting scriptures in the entire Bible is Psalm 121.
Psalm 121 (ESV)
121 I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
who made heaven and earth.
The writer is not actually looking for help to come from the hills. After all, what can rocks, minerals, and a few scrubby trees, do for us in our hour of need? He was saying that the very act of lifting his eyes to the majesty of a mountain range caused him to remember his help comes from the Creator of the jagged peaks. It caused him to look above and beyond the heights!
Colossians 3:1-2 says, “If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth.”
Now and then, we need consciously to grab ourselves by the chin and tilt our heads to the sky and LOOK UP! Higher than our current chaos, our overwhelming trial, our deepest need, or even our sometimes-trivial existence, there are things that are above, namely Christ seated at the right hand of God.
Hebrews chapter four describes the wonder of that. “14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
Christ gives us access to the throne room of God where we can come to receive grace, mercy, yes please and lots of it, but also wisdom because eventually we will have to go out and deal with our situation.
James 1:5 is so encouraging, “5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” This is not just any ordinary wisdom.
James 3:17-18 “But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, open to reason, full of mercy and good fruits, impartial and sincere. 18 And a harvest of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.”
That harvest of righteousness seems to be uniquely something from above as Isaiah points out in this beautifully poetic verse.
Isaiah 45:8 “Shower, O heavens, from above, and let the clouds rain down righteousness; let the earth open, that salvation and righteousness may bear fruit; let the earth cause them both to sprout; I the Lord have created it.”
LOOK UP! God has not only sent righteousness and salvation, but also so much more!
James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.”
The truly good and perfect gifts do not come with price tags and cannot be bought in stores
The privilege He gives us to participate in creation through giving life to our children.
Even those rare, through a glass darkly, glimpses He gives us of true love.
When we feel overwhelmed by flashes of joy, beauty, and wonder that inspire us to keep going, and to keep believing.
The greatest of all gifts He sent was the closer-than- a- brother, forever Friend who more than anything today would like you to look up to Him, and talk to Him. About…whatever…He understands you.