Introduction Last year, my wife, father-in-law, and I moved from Colorado to Florida, the flattest state in the US. I love Florida, so I'm glad we made the move, but I miss my friends and family still living in Colorado, and I miss the mountains. Tha…
By Writing & Photography by David K. Carpenter on June 23, 2024
Introduction
Last year, my wife, father-in-law, and I moved from Colorado to Florida, the flattest state in the US. I love Florida, so I'm glad we made the move, but I miss my friends and family still living in Colorado, and I miss the mountains. Thankfully, God has blessed us with the ability to come back and visit for a good chunk of time this summer, so that's where we are now.
On this visit, I've been struck by a profound sense of nostalgia and a deep appreciation for the majestic mountains that once framed my everyday life. There's something undeniably comforting about the towering Pikes Peak and its surrounding watchers, which once served as daily reminders of God's presence and strength. It was here, amidst these silent sentinels, that I often found solace in the words of Psalm 121, a passage that speaks powerfully about God's protection and care.
The Psalm and the Mountains
This psalm was written by King David. As you may know, in the early part of his adulthood, his life was clearly blessed by God, perhaps due in part to the fact that he relied on God daily for his strength and sustenance. In fact, in one of his sermons, the Apostle Paul pointed out that God referred to David as a man after His own heart (Acts 13:22). David rose from obscurity to become the great uniter and king of Israel in a relatively short time.
However, sadly, as often happens to so many of us, David's success led to an overblown sense of self-sufficiency, replacing the utter dependence on God that had gotten him to his position of prominence. This is Satan's handiwork, and we let him play this same trick on us time and again. Not surprisingly for David, that's when the wheels started to fall off his "greatness-mobile". For a while, the previous king, Saul, was trying to kill him. At another stage of his life, his son, Absolom, was trying to take the crown from David, and was willing to take David's head as part of the deal.
Bottom line: David knew more than his share of challenges and hardships.
Fortunately for him, though, he had maintained enough of a relationship with God that he would periodically recognize that he had turned away from his Source of Strength. He would repent and return to God.
This brings me to Psalms 121, one of my favorites. Perhaps in a period of reflection about why his life had fallen apart, David must have turned his gaze to the mountains and felt these words infuse his mind:
These verses have always resonated with me, especially during my years in Colorado. The mountains were not just a backdrop for life; they were a visible cue to lift my gaze upward and remember the omnipotence of God. They prompted me to consider the vastness of God's creation and His incomprehensible ability to oversee every detail within it.
I recall once near the end of a particularly moving church service, it was one of the many times God has dragged me out of my comfort zone. A couple sitting in the row in front of me seemed to be struggling mightily with something during a time of dedicated prayer. God placed it on my heart to quote these verses to them, which I did (explaining that God had nudged me to mention this to them). It resonated with them, they seemed to take comfort from the message, and I eventually got over my sweaty palms.
The Psalm Continues
The rest of the Psalm reads as follows:
He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber; indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
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.
The Lord will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life; the Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.
These words—knowing that God is always watching over me—have comforted me many times.
The Struggle with Unanswered Prayers
Yet, despite the comfort found in these verses, they can sometimes abruptly bring us face-to-face with the harsh realities of life. How do we reconcile the assurance of God's watchful care with the pain and suffering we sometimes endure? This question becomes particularly poignant when prayers seem unanswered, when the help we seek appears delayed or absent. Why couldn't my mom, my mother-in-law, or my friend be healed? Why is the world still so broken?
During my time in Florida, far from the mountains and the comfort they offered, these questions have become more pressing. The flat landscapes mirror the stark reality of life's unanswered prayers. Yet, it is here, away from my mountainous comfort zone, that Psalm 121 speaks with even greater clarity. The psalm does not promise that we will be spared from trouble, but rather that the Lord who created the mountains is continually with us, guarding our lives.
Learning from the Mountains
The mountains taught me that the majesty of God is not confined to the high places of the earth. His majesty extends to the plains, the valleys, and yes, even to the coastal stretches and waterways of Florida. God's presence is not tethered to a specific geography but is as omnipresent as the air we breathe. Whether we gaze upon the heights or stare across the Gulf of Mexico, our help comes from the Maker of heaven and earth.
This realization brings deep comfort. God's strong arms are wrapped around me, around you.
This is even true when facing the complexities of unanswered prayers. It reminds us that our perspective is limited, our understanding finite. Just as a child may not understand a parent's decisions, we too may not grasp the full scope of God's plans from our vantage point.
Sharing the Comfort
As I return to visit Colorado and once again find myself enveloped by the familiarity of the mountains, I am reminded of the importance of sharing this comfort. Psalm 121 does not just speak to me; it speaks to all who are weary, to all who feel lost or forsaken. It is a reminder that we are never alone, that our help comes from the Lord, who is both the Maker of the mountains and the Calmer of the seas. Florida's palm trees know His name.
Conclusion: A Call to Trust and Remember
So, as I reflect on the enduring truth of Psalm 121, I invite you, wherever you are, to find your "mountains"—those reminders of God's immense power and unfailing love. Let them comfort you, let them challenge you, and above all, let them draw you closer to the One who watches over your coming and going, both now and forevermore.
As we navigate the terrain of life, with its peaks and valleys and rivers and swamps, may we always remember that the same God who created the vast mountains watches over us with an even greater vigilance. And in this awareness, may we find the ultimate comfort and an unshakeable peace that come from knowing God, and that our help comes from Him.
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