December 6 – The Lifter of My Head

Scripture
“O Lord, I have so many enemies; so many are against me.
So many are saying, ‘God will never rescue him!’
But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.
I cried out to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy mountain.”
Psalm 3:1–4 (NLT)

Psalm 3 opens with David on the run from his own son, overwhelmed, outnumbered, and deeply wounded. His world has fallen apart, and his enemies are convinced that even God has abandoned him. Yet in the middle of this pain, David doesn’t hide how he feels. He brings it honestly to the Lord. Scripture never pretends that faith means the absence of struggle. In fact, some of God’s greatest servants walked through seasons of deep darkness.

One of the clearest examples is found in the private letters of Mother Teresa, who once wrote this to the Archbishop of Calcutta:
“There is so much contradiction in my soul. Such deep longing for God, so deep that it is painful, a suffering continual, and yet not wanted by God, repulsed, empty, no faith, no love, no zeal. Souls hold no attraction. Heaven means nothing. To me it looks like an empty place. The thought of it means nothing to me, and yet this torturing longing for God. Pray for me please that I keep smiling at Him in spite of everything. For I am only His, so He has every right over me. I am perfectly happy to be nobody even to God.”¹

Her words remind us that even faithful followers of Jesus experience seasons when God feels distant and the soul is tired.

But even in all of this, Scripture reminds us that we are never walking alone. David moves from fear to confidence when he says, “But you, O Lord, are a shield around me.” He realizes that God has not stepped away. God is protecting him, covering him, surrounding him with His presence even when everything feels fragile. And then David adds something incredibly personal: “You are the one who holds my head high.” Those are the words of someone who has felt crushed but knows that God Himself is the One who lifts him back up. Sometimes when you cannot raise your own head, God gently does it for you.

So when you do find yourself struggling, feeling weighed down, or unsure of what God is doing, take a cue from David. Bring your fears, questions, and discouragement honestly before the Lord. Cry out to Him. He hears every word, and He is far closer than you think. Even when you do not feel His presence, He surrounds you like a shield. And in His perfect time, He will lift your head and steady your heart again. He is faithful, and He will see you through whatever comes.

Reflection
1. Where are you feeling pressure or uncertainty, and how does knowing God is your shield bring comfort?

2. Is there an area of your life where you sense God inviting you to be more honest with Him in prayer?

3. Who in your life might need encouragement from you to look up and remember God’s faithfulness?

Prayer
Tell the Lord where you feel weak or overwhelmed and ask Him to be your shield and the lifter of your head. Thank Him for His nearness, even when you do not feel it, and pray for the strength to trust Him in every circumstance.

Footnote
¹ From the private letters of Mother Teresa, published in Mother Teresa: Come Be My Light (2007).