God is called the lifter of my head. In Psalms David describes this holy righteous God of the universe who gently lifts our head up. Here are some examples of how God lifts our heads when they hang-
Elijah was a D-1 player, top of his game, nothing but net kind of prophet. He had stood up to hundreds of an evil queen’s underlings, challenged them to a God duel, and watched as God swept down to burn things up. You would think the queen would get the picture, submit to the greater God of Elijah, and relent her attack. Instead, she made a promise to kill Elijah at all costs. Elijah was stunned, disappointed, and afraid. This fear of man drove Elijah into the hills, where he fell prostrate and exhausted. He had honored God, seen God work, and it still was not enough. He was finished fighting the good fight, and asked God to end his life. Have you ever been there? You faithfully fight the fight of daily life, see great victories, have high hopes for the future, only to be fired, let go, downsized, or accused of wrongdoing. Elijah decided to hang his head in a self imposed pity party, and asked God to end his life right there. What do you think God did? He provided a tree for cover, food and water for nutrition, and sleep for healing. This is a sound prescription for those who have experienced the exhaustion of sacrificing their life to serve others. Our heads hang in exhaustion, we begin to lose hope in the God of hope and we wonder why more people don’t get it and get out there with us. We sometimes combine genuine desire with prideful service, and we lose our eternal perspective. We really believe we can overcome an obstacle with more effort, commitment, and dedication. Our culture feeds on this false promise, and we eventually give in to the exhaustion and bitter disappointment that comes with failed efforts and lost opportunities. It is at this moment that we need to remember that God is still on his throne, and He is able to have His will done in any way He wants to. Don’t give up, don’t give in to hopeless thoughts of would of, could of, should of. Let God lift your head to see His loving eyes of approval, His eternal perspective on your situation, while at the same time teaching you the dangers of serving Him for the wrong reasons. Free yourself from the prison of performance, and rest in the care and love of your savior.
Jonah was a faithful servant who struggled with being around unrighteous people. God sent him to Nineveh to speak to the sinful people there. Jonah didn’t want any part of that assignment, and hopped on a boat going the opposite way. He held his self righteous head high as he sailed away in judgement. Let those ungodly people die, they deserved it anyway. Jonah had developed a bad case of self righteousness, and was slipping away into the enemies hands. Long story short, His boat is caught in a God inspired and God sized storm, and Jonah knows he’s the reason the people on the boat are going to drown. He comes up on the deck, and volunteers to be thrown overboard. God commands a large fish to swallow Jonah, where he languishes for three days. Jonah hung his head in shame, regret, remorse, and repentance. God had the fish spit him out, and, after taking a long bath, Jonah obeyed the call this time. He was still unloving in his message, almost hoping the people would not repent. He told them that God was going to wipe them out in 40 days. God used his harsh message to cause the people to repent and commit to new life living. Nineveh was spared from destruction, and Jonah was happy! NOT! Jonah once more accused God of not playing fair by removing his judgement from Nineveh. He hangs his head in self induced pity, anger, and regret. Jonah is still learning what it means to hate sin and love sinners. Once again, like Elijah, we have another sulking prophet asking God to end it all. God grows a plant to shade Jonah, then sends a worm to eat it. Jonah complains, and God responds as only God can. “ You feel sorry that the plant is gone, even though you did nothing to make it grow, but you have no sorrow for 120,000 people living in darkness there in Nineveh”. God teaches him the lesson of mercy and forgiveness, and Jonah leaves a better, but humble man. God lifted Jonah’s head up to see God’s love and mercy extends even to those we think are far from qualified to receive it.
Have you had a Jonah moment? At work, home, with friends, family? Have you sat down and waited for that mean person to receive God’s judgment, only to see them repent and be saved? God wants to lift your head up to see them with His eyes, eyes that watched His son die in agony in order to have you for His own. Can you deny THAT person the same life saving experience? I didn’t think so. Good for you! We love because He FIRST loved us. Go and be that message to your Nineveh!
