
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, NIV)
Gazing out the massive windows I soaked in panoramic view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. Recent snowfall highlighted the 180° view of these purple mountains majesty. Under normal circumstances I would enjoy this view with a cup of coffee, a blanket, and a book, but not this time. I peered through the thick glass of the ninth floor waiting room windows and silently prayed, “Lord, help!”
He who watches over you will not slumber;
Indeed, he who watches over Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.
(Psalm 121:3-4, NIV)
Down the sterile hall, our beloved rested in ICU, unresponsive. She was unresponsive, but God was not. The horn was blown and prayer warriors across the Roanoke Valley, extending south to Tennessee and north to Maryland were in action. The prayers of God’s faithful interceded on our behalf. I could not believe how well I slept Friday night, the night our beloved was airlifted to the hospital. The next day, I learned why. This text message came across Saturday morning: “God woke me up every 2 hours last night to pray…and we will continue. We love you guys.” I slept soundly because my friend and prayer warrior was up all night, interceding on my behalf so I could rest!
The Lord watches over you— The Lord is your shade at your right hand; The sun will not harm you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
(Psalm 121:5-6, NIV)
The ICU limits visitation, so much of our time is spent sitting in the waiting room. While talking with my beloved’s husband, our eyes continued to drift to the panoramic mountain view. We watched as the medical helicopter flew in just above our window delivering another airlifted patient. Back and forth, over the mountains to the hospital the helicopter flew. Silently, I prayed each time the helicopter landed. Our beloved was airlifted here too. I laughed as my beloved’s husband told the story that he asked the pilot if he could fly the helicopter. “The tax payers used to pay me to fly.”
The Lord will keep you from all harm— He will watch over your life;
He Lord will watch over your coming and going
Both now and forevermore.
(Psalm 121:7-8, NIV)
Monday, I admired the snow capped Blue Ridge Mountains on my drive to work. As I viewed the mountains I prayed this verse: “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, NIV).
Then I remembered the story of Elisha in 2 Kings Chapter 6. The enemy surrounded the city and Elisha’s people. ““Don’t be afraid!” Elisha told him. “For there are more on our side than on theirs!” And Elisha prayed, “Open his eyes, LORD, so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha” (2 Kings 6:16-17, NIV).
Monday at 10:37 AM the faucet of peace was turned on and peace like a gushing river washed over me. God used His beautiful mountain creation, the words penned by King David, and the story of Elisha to remind me to LOOK UP! While I may feel surrounded by uncertainty, God is sending His army to surround our circumstance.
The windows of the ninth floor waiting room at Roanoke Memorial Hospital offer a panoramic 180° view of the Blue Ridge Mountains. God showed me this week, there are more on His side than the enemy’s side. God showed me that He surrounds me. He surrounds my uncertainty. He completely surrounds my circumstance. Unlike the mountain view from the hospital windows, God doesn’t have a 180° view of my circumstance. He has a 360° panoramic view!
Hours later, the call we’d been praying for came. Our beloved is awake and responsive. Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!
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, NIV)
Photo credit courtesy of Pixabay
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