“Unto thee lift I up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens” (Psalm 123:1).

Looking at present circumstances can produce anxiety. Looking back at past failures can produce sorrow. Looking forward to the unknown can produce fear. Looking within at weaknesses and failures can produce misery.

Thus, for the believer, the only direction to look is up. “Unto thee lift I up mine eyes.”

“Behold, as the eyes of servants look unto the hand of their masters, and as the eyes of a maiden unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the LORD our God, until that He have mercy upon us” (v.2). As servants look to their masters for direction, protection, and deliverance, even so believers look to God for the same. God’s mercy is extended to all those who keep their eyes on Him.

An Old Testament illustration of this is found in II Chronicles, chapter 20. Jehoshaphat had a problem. Three nations had banded together to wage war against him. He cries in desperation: “We have no might against this great company that cometh against us” (v.12). He also confessed: “Neither know we what to do.”

What do we do when we don’t know what to do? The answer is in Jehoshaphat’s statement in verse 12: “But our eyes are upon thee.” The Lord immediately answered and gave him victory.

Our answer may not come as quickly as it came to Jehoshaphat, but we have the same God who desires that we look to Him. “I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD, which made heaven and earth” (Psalm 121:1,2).

We keep our eyes on the Lord. He keeps His eyes on us. “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong in the behalf of them whose heart is perfect toward Him” (II Chronicles 16:9). NPS