My Help Comes from the Lord

Daily Office Readings: Psalm 121, 1 Samuel 11:1–15, Acts 8:1–13, Luke 22:63–71

“The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in, from this time forth for evermore.” — Psalm 121:8

One of the most familiar affirmations in Scripture is found in Psalm 121:

“My help comes from the Lord.”

Those words sound comforting when life is peaceful. They become life-giving when we find ourselves surrounded by fear, grief, uncertainty, or suffering.

The readings today remind us that God’s help often comes in ways we would never expect.

The people of Jabesh-Gilead faced certain destruction. They could not save themselves. God stirred the heart of Saul to unite Israel and rescue them. The victory was not merely a military triumph; it became a moment of national thanksgiving. Saul was confirmed as king, but the people recognized that the true Deliverer was the Lord.

In Acts, we encounter one of the darkest moments in the early Church. Stephen becomes the first Christian martyr, and standing nearby is a young man named Saul, approving of his execution. The persecution that followed scattered the believers.

At first glance, it appears that evil has won.

Yet God transformed that tragedy into an opportunity for the Gospel. The scattered believers carried the good news wherever they went. Philip proclaimed Christ in Samaria, and many believed, including Simon the magician. What seemed like defeat became the means by which the Gospel crossed new boundaries.

God did not will Stephen’s murder, but God refused to let death have the final word.

Then we turn to Jesus.

He is mocked, beaten, falsely accused, and humiliated before the religious leaders. Every act of cruelty reveals the depth of human brokenness. Yet through His willingness to endure suffering without abandoning His mission of love, God opens the way for the reconciliation of humanity.

The cross is the greatest example that God’s redeeming love is stronger than human hatred.

We often say, “God works in mysterious ways.”

Perhaps what is mysterious is not that God sends suffering, but that God can bring healing from suffering, hope from despair, forgiveness from betrayal, and life from death. Again and again, Scripture reminds us that God does not waste our pain. He continually works to redeem what sin, violence, and fear seek to destroy.

Looking back over my own journey, I can see moments when tragedy became an unexpected teacher. The death of my father, the loss of my daughter Amanda Joy, disappointments, failures, and seasons of deep loneliness all opened doors I could never have imagined. I would never have chosen those experiences, yet through them God slowly reshaped my heart, deepened my compassion, and broadened my understanding of grace.

Only in hindsight could I see that my help truly came from the Lord.

Perhaps that is one of the great lessons of today’s readings.

When we cannot see the road ahead…
When evil appears to triumph…
When grief seems overwhelming…
When we wonder whether God is still present…

The psalmist quietly reminds us:

“My help comes from the Lord.”

The God who watched over Israel still watches over us. The God who redeemed Stephen’s death, transformed Saul into Paul, strengthened Philip’s witness, and raised Jesus from the grave continues to work within our lives today.

His help may not always arrive as we expect.

But it always arrives in love.

Prayer

Lord, when I cannot understand what You are doing, help me trust Your faithful presence. Open my eyes to see how You continue to bring hope from despair, courage from fear, and life from places that seem overcome by death. Teach me to recognize Your hand at work, even in the mysteries of life, until I can say with confidence, “My help comes from the Lord.” Amen.