By Bob Bunn
Scripture Reading: Psalm 120:1-7, Psalm 121:1-8, Psalm 122:1-9, Psalm 123:1-4, Psalm 124:1-8, Psalm 125:1-5, Psalm 126:1-6, Psalm 127:1-5
I come from a long line of “fixers.” My grandfather loved to tinker with stuff, and he could repair or build almost anything. My dad’s not quite to that level, but he still can look at a problem and find a solution that works.
Somehow, I missed that gene—or I just wasn’t paying attention when they tried to teach me. Whatever the case, I’m not a handy person. In fact, when I work on things, they usually end up worse than before I started. Even if I read an instruction manual or watch a hundred online videos, I come to the same conclusion: I have no idea what I’m doing!
Over time, I’ve made peace with my lack of handiness. That’s why I rely on mechanics to fix my car. I call plumbers to stop leaks. And I trust electricians to fix my outlets.
I know my limits, and I’m not shy about asking professionals for help.
But my inability to make things work right is not limited to household appliances or utilities. My biggest weaknesses have nothing to do with pipes or wires or nuts and bolts. They are rooted in my spiritual life. As inept as I am with a wrench or hammer, that doesn’t hold a candle to my helplessness in the face of sin and the struggles of life.
I could not rescue myself from sin on my own, and I cannot sustain my relationship with God on my own. I need help from the only “fixer” who matters.
That’s why I appreciate reminders like Psalm 121. A “song of ascents” voiced by Jewish festival pilgrims as they made their way up the hill that led into Jerusalem, this psalm helps me refocus when my vision gets a little fuzzy. It challenges me to acknowledge my own weakness and to rely on the One who formed me in my mother’s womb, the One who knows me better than I know myself and still loves me more than anyone else could.
I’ve been through a lot of storms in my life, and I’ve learned that there’s only one place to turn. Like the psalmist, I know that “my help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth” (v.2). I’ve surrendered to the God who “does not slumber or sleep” (v.4). No matter what the stress, scandal, or suffering, He has served as my protector and my shelter.
The season of Lent challenges us to examine our lives ruthlessly and to remove any hint of self-reliance or spiritual independence. We’re called to repent of our arrogance and find comfort in the God who sent His Son to accomplish what we could not accomplish on our own.
By sending Jesus, the Maker of heaven and earth proved that He has the power and grace to meet our deepest need. This also means that we can trust Him to handle any other problem that comes our way.
Written by Bob Bunn
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