I went to bed last night feeling low. News of an armed robbery and an officer being shot had crossed my phone screen. My nephew, a local officer, was safe, but it was disturbing news. Already this week, my husband’s hometown was roiled by the shooting death of one of its own in what was reported to be a property dispute. And our nation is in turmoil over a young jogger, pursued and shot as he ran. And I grieve. Lives and families forever changed.

I woke up pondering Psalm 3:3:

“But You, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.”

What does it mean for God to lift my head? This little lizard looks ready for Cobra Pose, a yoga move involving pushing up from a face-down position. Using your arms, you lift your head and shoulders off the ground, stretching your back and chest.

There’s a fascinating TED talk about the benefits of power poses, how strong postures and positions can create chemical changes in our bodies and make us feel more confident, stronger. Sure, we can exercise and assume some power poses, but how does God lift our heads? Inwardly. Spiritually.

The first twelve verses of First Peter provides some food for thought. The book is written to afflicted people iiving counter-culturally and suffering extreme persecution. As you read, list the comforts Peter offers.

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood:

May grace and peace be multiplied to you.

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, 5 who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 8 Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, 9 obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.

10 Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied about the grace that was to be yours searched and inquired carefully, 11 inquiring what person or time[a]the Spirit of Christ in them was indicating when he predicted the sufferings of Christ and the subsequent glories. 12 It was revealed to them that they were serving not themselves but you, in the things that have now been announced to you through those who preached the good news to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look.

Here are a few comforts I jotted down:

The exile of believers is “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” (v. 2) — my circumstances are no surprise to Him
The Holy Spirit is using these experiences to sanctify His people for greater obedience and holiness (v. 2)
He prays for God to multiply grace and peace.(v. 2) We can pray this same prayer.
The miracle of salvation (being “born again”) was due to His work, His mercy. (v. 3) If He shows mercy to sinners, surely He will be merciful to His children.
We have a living hope, secured by the resurrection of Jesus Christ. (v. 3)
A great inheritance is preserved in heaven for His people. (v. 4)
God’s power guards us now through our faith (v. 5)
Final deliverance will come in the last time (v. 5)
Current trials are refining the faith of believers and will yield praise, glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus (v. 6-7)
Believers can rejoice in love for Jesus and in His love for us. This personal relationship gives us mysterious, inexpressible joy, even though we can’t see Him. (v. 8)
The prophets (and the whole Bible) testify to Jesus and to God’s plan for redeeming souls and redeeming our world. Ages of testimony point to the truth and meaning of His life, death and resurrection. (v. 10-12) We can stand on this firm foundation.

These points encourage me to look up - spiritual cobra pose. Are you low and weighed down? Open your Bible and let God’s Word fill your heart and lift your head. As a Puritan prayer in the Valley of Vision says, “Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high...” Look to Jesus. Humble ourselves before God, and He will lift us up, for He gives grace to the humble. (James 4:6, 10)