Dealing with abuse can be overwhelming, and many abuse victims might resonate well with those in the Bible who faced massive challenges:

I lift up my eyes to the mountains —

where does my help come from?¹

We are looking at the Songs of Ascents as a way of having empathy for those who are living with abuse. These psalms were probably used by pilgrims heading for Jerusalem: leaving an unsafe place, seeking sanctuary, and there is a lot here victims of abuse might relate to.²

It is possible Psalm 121 was sung just before, or just while, leaving the place of danger. The road ahead looks impossible. Dangerous. Exhausting. There is still unsafe land ahead.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains —

where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

 

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.³

In the face of danger, the psalmist remembers God’s focussed attention: that he is watching, and he does care. The mountains, however, are real mountains, and the promises in this psalm might not match the victim’s current experience of life. Abuse is harm. Where is God in that? Relating to and trusting God might be incredibly difficult for a victim of abuse.

Many other psalms wrestle with that dilemma of finding God in the midst of trauma. Even Jesus quotes Psalm 22, for example:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?⁴

Meanwhile, as humans, we are invited to help those who are vulnerable. What part could you play in that?

Some practical things you can do to care for others or yourself

1. Stay connected, as best you can. Abusers love to keep victims isolated.
2. Stay alert. Are you concerned about the wellbeing of someone you know? Pay attention to those cues.
3. If you are worried someone might be experiencing abuse or are struggling yourself, try 1800 RESPECT or another agency. Even if you are unsure what is going on, they can help you work out what to do, or just listen to you.

Steve Wade

1. Psalm 121:1
2. If you missed the first devotion, you can find it here
3. Psalm 121
4. Psalm 22:1