When the Climb Gets Tough | Finding Steady Faith in the Songs of Ascents (Psalm 125–126)

Some seasons of faith feel uphill.

The prayers come harder. The answers feel slower. The path forward looks steep, exhausting, and uncertain. And yet, Scripture reminds us again and again that difficulty does not mean abandonment—and struggle does not mean God is absent.

In Psalm 125 and 126, part of the Songs of Ascents, we’re invited into a powerful metaphor for the journey of faith: the climb.

The Songs of Ascents: Faith on the Move

The Songs of Ascents were a collection of psalms traditionally sung or recited by Jewish pilgrims as they traveled to Jerusalem for the annual festivals at the temple on Mount Zion. These weren’t abstract poems—they were travel songs, formed by dust, sweat, aching legs, and hopeful hearts.

Every step toward Jerusalem was a reminder that faith is not static. It is walked, climbed, carried.

Trust That Cannot Be Shaken (Psalm 125)

Psalm 125 opens with a promise that feels especially important when life feels unstable:

“Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion,which cannot be shaken but endures forever.”

Mount Zion was high—but it wasn’t the highest point in Jerusalem. In fact, it was surrounded by even higher ridges and hills. That surrounding geography makes the next verse even more powerful:

“As the mountains surround Jerusalem,so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.”

To stand on Mount Zion would have felt secure, even invincible—not because it was the tallest peak, but because it was protected on every side. This is the psalmist’s imagery: God does not just place us on solid ground—He surrounds us.

But there’s a caveat in verse one that matters deeply:

“Those who trust in the Lord…”

This is not desperation-driven faith. It’s not panic prayer. It’s faithful expectation—a settled confidence that God is steady even when life isn’t.

When we feel shaken, it’s worth asking: Am I responding out of trust—or fear?

The climb may be steep, but God is steady.

Jesus Knew This Path Well

It’s easy to forget that Jesus didn’t just teach these psalms—He grew up with them.

Luke 2 tells us that every year Jesus’ parents traveled to Jerusalem for Passover.

That journey from Galilee to Jerusalem was no small walk—roughly 70–90 miles over several days, climbing from below sea level to over 3,000 feet in elevation.

These were the songs sung along the way. The same melodies. The same words. The same truths.

Like traditional music we associate with certain seasons—Christmas hymns, familiar worship songs—these psalms would have been ingrained in Jesus from childhood. Sung year after year. Step after step.

It’s strange to picture Jesus as a kid, but He learned obedience, patience, and perseverance just like we do. His parents experienced moments of frustration and moments of deep pride. He grew—in wisdom, stature, and favor with God and man.

And embedded in His heart were these words:

Those who trust in the Lord cannot be shaken.

When Faith Feels Fragile

Psalm 125 also acknowledges something we often struggle with: comparison.

Sometimes it looks like the wicked prosper. Sometimes it feels like integrity costs more than compromise. The psalmist reminds us that the power of the wicked is temporary, but God’s goodness to the upright lasts.

Progress isn’t always obvious. Growth isn’t always visible. But faithfulness is never wasted.

The climb is steep—but God is steady.

When the Climb Is Watered With Tears (Psalm 126)

Psalm 126 shifts the tone from endurance to restoration:

“Those who sow with tearswill reap with songs of joy.”

Some climbs are painful. Some seasons are marked by grief, disappointment, or quiet sorrow. Psalm 126 doesn’t dismiss those tears—it honors them.

God sees every step taken in faith.God counts every seed sown in sorrow.

What begins with weeping does not end in loss. Joy often comes after the hardest ascent.

“Those who go out weeping, carrying seed to sow,will return with songs of joy, carrying sheaves with them.”

If you’re walking through a hard season, this psalm offers hope: sorrow is not the end of the story.

Jesus’ Final Ascent

Near the end of His earthly life, Jesus once again set His face toward Jerusalem—but this time, the climb was different.

Luke tells us that Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. He knew exactly what awaited Him: betrayal, suffering, the cross.

Why did He persevere?

Hebrews tells us plainly: for the joy set before Him.

That joy was us.

You. Me.

Jesus endured the steepest climb of His life because redemption was on the other side. And as He hung on the cross—outside the city walls—He would have looked upon the same mountains He sang about as a child.

Mountains that reminded Him: God surrounds His people. Now. And forevermore.

Keep Walking

When the climb gets tough, don’t stop trusting.Don’t stop sowing.Don’t stop walking.

The journey of faith is not about avoiding difficulty—it’s about learning to trust a steady God in the middle of it.

The climb is steep.But God is steady.