Psalm 3:1-4

"O Lord, how my adversaries have increased! Many are rising up against me.  Many are saying of my soul, 'There is no delivery for him in God.' But Thou, O Lord, art a shield about me, my glory, and the One who lifts my head.  I was crying to the Lord with my voice, and He answered me from His holy mountain." ~NASB

Sometimes it seems we are beset on all sides by adversaries and trouble. It seem that everywhere we turn another problem presents itself.  We feel alone and worn down, and some may even ask us "Where is your God now?"  Or maybe they tell us our faith isn't strong enough, that we must not truly believe, for if we did then God would take our pain from us.

But! God is always with us.  Sometimes it is necessary for us to go through trouble.  Trouble comes in many forms.  It tests our faith, it stretches us, it can be a consequence for a poor action, it can be a consequence of someone else's choice and we are being used to show God's love in some way.  There are so many reasons why troubles come to us all, the foremost being that this is an imperfect world.  But God is a shield around us.  He protects us.  I think this is a spiritual protection more than it is any other kind of protection.  I do believe that He protects our physical body.  He provides for our physical needs, but sometimes physical troubles do come. and sometimes good people die or get sick or lose their job, etc.  Sometimes we face spiritual temptations and trials, but God will always protect our souls.  He loves us and wants us to spend eternity with Him.  This physical world doesn't truly matter in the long run, but the spiritual world most certainly does.

I love the phrase "the One who lifts my chin."  I always picture God as a loving Father.  And this phrase brings a picture of God putting two fingers under my chin, like you might a small child who is sad or discouraged, and lifting my head to meet His eyes.  He looks through my eyes, into my heart, and smiles.  That makes me feel as though I could face any trial that comes my way.  To know that He sees my heart, and He cares enough to lift me when I'm sad and weary.  Just one smile from Him is encouragement enough to face down anything.

If we cry out to God, in pain, in need, in love, in desire, in desperation, He will answer us.