Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord; Let Your lovingkindness and Your truth continually preserve me.  For innumerable evils have surrounded me; My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up; They are more than the hairs of my head; Therefore my heart fails me.  Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me; O Lord, make haste to help me! Psalm 40:11-13 NKJV

F E A R.  Overwhelming, gut wrenching, immobilizing F E A R hit me, actually smacked me in the face.  Tears streamed as I was paralyzed by irrational fear.  Others in the group were THRILLED!

What?  Aspen, Colorado in December.  God’s awesomeness surrounded us and was softly covered in a blanket of snow.  Forty-four of us were heading out to the Maroon Bells.  To snowmobile.  WHEE!  Excitement filled the bus as we headed out.

F E A R.  WHY?  Why did I respond with breathless fear?  Two acquaintances had taken their families on ski vacations and gone snowmobiling.  Two dads crashed their snowmobiles, killing their daughters.  And I have buried a son.

F E A R gripped me.  All of me; my body, mind and spirit.  And tears fell.

In my deepest self, as we were assigned our snowmobiles, I heard, 

LOOK UP.  LOOK UP.  LOOK UP… at ME.  When you look to your own next step, you fall flat on your face.  I have you… in My loving arms.  Look up at MY beauty.  I made it for you.  Look up and relish the magnificence surrounding you.  Trust ME and LOOK UP!  Do you see ME?

God also cared deeply how I felt as I heard Him whisper, 

I know how you feel.  Remember, I too have buried a Son.

My feet or Your face, O Lord?  Whom shall I trust and where shall I look?  Do I look at my own senseless gut–gripping fear as I peer at my feet (aha moment—feat—like I can do anything myself anyway?) or do I look up to my mighty loving all-powerful God, His loving face and mighty hands?

Now… STEP BOLDLY (onto that snowmobile, into any situation, into every moment) as you trust Me, your Father in Heaven, to guide and help you.  

Ok God… as long as You will also help my husband drive this snowmobile!  (Do we always make deals with God???)  Let me change that response.  Ok God.  Now let me also pray that You help drive this snowmobile that I am sitting on, reminding myself to breathe, to look up and to trust You.  

Oh, behold the beauty of Your mountaintops!  Oh yes, breathlessly beautiful!  Thank You, Father for telling me to look up to You and to trust You.  I like it when You hold my hand… and my heart.  

What has God asked you to do?  Look UP to your mighty faithful Father God and STEP out in faith.  Confidently.  IN AWE of His loving arms holding your baby hand as you toddle out into His beautiful world and do the task He gave you.  That request was made for you, by Your Heavenly Father.  Start small, be faithful, follow where He leads you.  LOOK UP… and pray, O Lord, make haste to help me!

Dear Heavenly Father, I praise Your mighty name and thank You for reminding me to LOOK UP to You.  Your beauty, tender mercies, and lovingkindness are revealed when I look up to You and put my trust in You.  Oh Lord, make haste to help me!  In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Lagniappe:  (That’s how folks in Louisiana say a little something extra)

Then He put His hands on his eyes again and made him look up. And he was restored and saw everyone clearly.  Mark 8:25 NKJV