A parent is sitting with their child. The child has just experienced something painful – a heartbreak, a game loss, a bad grade, bullying, being caught after doing something naughty. That sweet child, with tears streaming down his or her face is looking at the ground in shame or sadness. After patiently listening to the cries/agony/complaints of their little one, the parent tenderly lifts their chin so that they can look straight into each other’s eyes. Mom or dad does this so that the child will know that he/she is accepted, loved, forgiven. In those eyes the child sees safety, reassurance and hope.
Today I was reading Psalm 3. The third verse says, “But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.” This was written by David when he was fleeing for life from his own son. Needless to say, David was in a state of discouragement, of deep sadness and fear. But He recognized God, his Father, as the lifter of his head. That tender finger under the chin that brought David’s eyes up to His own, while at the same time shielding David from harm.
Like the parent with the hurting child, David also says that God listened to him. Verse four – “I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me…”
Jesus doesn’t lift our heads by pulling our hair. He longs for us to pour our hearts out to Him as David did so often and so well. He gently lifts our chins to meet His loving gaze. Looking into those eyes changes everything. Maybe not our circumstance, but absolutely our perspective. Like that child we see that we are accepted, loved, forgiven and we receive safety, reassurance and hope. He becomes our focus as our eyes are redirected to Him.
Sense His finger under your chin. Look up into His eyes. He is there. And He’s not going anywhere…
