I’ll never forget the moment I fell in love with the mountains. It happened when I was on a youth retreat with my church. We arrived at our retreat location after sunset, and it was pitch-black dark with no light pollution from a nearby city.

When I stepped out of the church van, I instantly “felt” “something” surrounding me—I couldn’t explain it, but I felt it for sure. We got unpacked, settled-in, had an evening devotion, then it was lights-out for bedtime.

The following morning, when we exited the girls’ cabin to head to the mess hall for breakfast, the view stopped me in my tracks. I froze. Then, turned a full circle to take in the 360-degree view. The camp was in a small valley, and we were completely surrounded by the mountains. I couldn’t even tell which way we drove in, as there seemed to be no break in the protective giants that appeared to be holding us in a loving embrace.

DSC_0074
This is not the view from the camp where we were, but instead from another trip to the mountains with my family.

Throughout the weekend, each time I went outside, my eyes instantly lifted up at the view of the mountains. The view did not grow old on me, but rather, appeared anew with each glance.

beautiful
majestic
unwavering
fortress
awe-inspiring
protective
strong
breath-taking
firm
gorgeous

These are all adjectives that described the mountains that weekend.

They are also adjectives that could be used to describe my Lord, which is why I reflected back to this memory when I read this verse this morning:

“As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the Lord surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.”
Psalm 125:2

If you are not yet “His people”, not yet given your life to God, to follow Jesus, come with me to the “valley” of Christian life, where you’ll be surrounded by the loving, protective, eternal-life-giving arms of Jesus–it’s a great place to be!

Psalm 125
Those who trust in the Lord
Are as Mount Zion, which cannot be moved but abides forever.
As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
So the Lord surrounds His people
From this time forth and forever.
For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest upon the land of the righteous,
So that the righteous will not put forth their hands to do wrong.
Do good, O Lord, to those who are good
And to those who are upright in their hearts.
But as for those who turn aside to their crooked ways,
The Lord will lead them away with the doers of iniquity.
Peace be upon Israel.