Have you ever noticed that in most epic battle scenes, there’s always a dire moment when the good guys seem grossly outnumbered? (Not to mention that the bad guys are multiplying in droves, marching their troops in as if they have no end, and regrowing heads and limbs that are bigger and “badder” than the ones that were just chopped off.)

We begin to lose hope.

In that moment – just when things seem so dire – doesn’t the camera typically focus in on the hero’s face? And, we breathe a sigh of relief to notice that he hasn’t lost hope. In fact, there’s a glint in his eyes as he scans the horizon.

He knows something.

He looks back over his shoulder at the hills.

He knows that help is coming.

He knows that a fresh, strong, passionate reinforcement troupe will be cresting that hill in 3…2…1…

And suddenly!

Down, over that crest…

down, into the battle…

…horses, warriors, and Victory rush.

This has been one of those summers when I, too, find myself looking up to the hills…

Psalm 121

I lift up my eyes to the hills.
From where does my help come?

My help comes from the LORD,
who made heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot be moved;
he who keeps you will not slumber.
Behold, he who keeps Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD is your keeper;
the LORD is your shade on your right hand.

The sun shall not strike you by day,

nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all evil;

he will keep your life.

The LORD will keep
your going out and your coming in
from this time forth and forevermore.