Holy Bible Online 
Fear can be overcome! To do so, we must shift our focus away from the challenges around us and fix our eyes on God's presence. He is with us, always by our side, and fully able to protect us from all harm.
Psalm 121
1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains -
where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and earth.
3 He will not let your foot slip -
He who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, He who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord watches over you -
the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord will keep you from all harm -
He will watch over your life;
8 the Lord will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.
- Psalm 121:1-8
Study of Psalm 121
Psalm 121 is part of a group of psalms (120 to 134) described in the Bible as "Songs of Ascents" or "Pilgrimage Songs."
It is believed that these psalms were sung or recited by the Jews as they walked to Jerusalem to celebrate their religious festivals.
These journeys or pilgrimages were surrounded by dangers. Wild animals or robbers would descend from the mountains, where they were often hiding.
The psalmist, then, asks:
I lift up my eyes to the mountains - where does my help come from?
- Psalm 121:1
He is likely thinking of the danger that the mountains might pose as they walked. The author of this psalm is dealing with fear.
One of the greatest problems humanity still faces today is fear. We fear losing our health, money, a loved one, or even our lives... Fear can be paralyzing. Anyone on a journey cannot let fear stop them.
The psalmist himself answers the question he asks in the first verse:
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
- Psalm 121:2
Here, we learn that to overcome fear, we need to take our eyes off the "mountains" (adverse situations) and focus on God's presence. He is with us on this journey of life, protecting us from evil.
Starting from the third verse, we see three characteristics of God's protective presence. By reflecting on these characteristics, we can find the strength to overcome our fears:
God's Protective Presence is Constant
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.
- Psalm 121:3-4
Our God does not need to sleep. A night watchman may doze off while doing his job, but our God never sleeps or even naps. He is always alert.
God's Protective Presence is Personal
The Lord watches over you - the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
- Psalm 121:5
Like a shade that protects us, or like our shadow on our right hand during this journey, so is God's protective presence. God’s presence is personal, close, and caring. The Lord is right beside us.
God's Protective Presence is Complete
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.
- Psalm 121:6-8
In desert regions, the days are extremely hot, and the nights are very cold. But God's protective presence is complete, whether under the sun or the moon, in your going out or coming in. It is protection from all harm that lasts forever.
God’s protective presence is constant, personal, and complete.
Does this mean nothing bad will ever happen to us? Not at all! It means that we have a sovereign God to whom we can turn in times of trouble. Being sovereign, He often allows us to go through adversity so that we may learn to trust in Him.
Fear is often linked to an attitude of unbelief or distrust in God.
Place your fears before this God, for He always has the best for each of us!
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