Look Up!

Growing up, I remember my mom had a fear of elevators. Now these weren’t the smooth, silent, glass elevators you find in modern buildings today. No, these were old Soviet-era elevators. Clunky. Dim. And when you stepped inside, if you looked down you could see straight into the shaft. You’d see that deep, dark, seemingly endless hole. And it made her nervous. Rightfully so.

But every time she had to ride that elevator, we’d remind her, “Mom, don’t look down. Look up. Keep your eyes off that shaft and you won’t feel scared.” And you know what? It worked. When she looked up, her focus shifted. Her heart settled. She made it through.

Sometimes we find ourselves in a situation that feels just like that elevator. Life feels unstable. The floor beneath you is shaking. You're facing challenges in your family, your finances, your health, your future. And if you're not careful, you'll start looking down down at the problems, the disappointment, the betrayal, the things you’ve lost. You’ll look down and feel fear, anxiety, and discouragement begin to rise up.

But here’s the key: Don’t look down. Don’t focus on how deep the shaft is. Look up. Psalm 121 says, “I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

Looking up is an act of faith. It’s a quiet defiance against fear. It’s choosing to see beyond the shadows and turning your eyes toward the shining light. The challenges are still there, but so is God. The uncertainty may remain, but so does His promise to guide your steps. Looking down shows you your limits. Looking up reveals His power.

And here’s the beautiful part, when my mom made it to the top floor, every time she’d step out of that elevator, she’d smile. She’d say, “See, I made it!” Friends, one day, you’re going to step out of this difficult season. You’re going to look back and say, “It was scary, but I made it. It was hard, but I kept my eyes on Jesus. I didn’t look down, I looked up.”

So let that be your prayer: I’m not looking down. I’m looking up. I’m looking to the hills. I’m looking to the heavens. Because that’s where my help comes from.