He Lifts Your Head
“But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.” Psalm 3:3
Luke 7:36–50
She walked into a room she wasn’t even invited into. Everyone in that room knew her. They knew her past and reputation.
Still, she walked through the door. Because Jesus was there.
I can only imagine what it took for her to walk into that room. She knew the looks she would get, the whispers, and that the Pharisee didn’t want her there.
But she still went to Him.
She stood behind Him, weeping. Her tears fell on His feet. She wiped them with her hair, kissed His feet, and poured perfume over them.
She didn’t come pretending she had it all together.
She came because she knew she didn’t.
Her sin brought her straight to Jesus. It showed her how desperately she needed Him.
Maybe you’ve been there.
You replay your mistakes or the things you wish you could take back in your head like a song on repeat. Sometimes, you let your past convince you that you aren’t worthy of Jesus or His love.
But friend, you can come to Jesus just as you are.
You don’t have to hide the messy parts or clean yourself up first.
Take your regret, your shame, and all your broken pieces to Him.
That’s exactly what she did.
The Pharisee looked at her and saw a sinner.
Jesus saw her faith.
He saw her heart.
And Jesus said,
“Your sins are forgiven.” Luke 7:48
Then He told her,
“Your faith has saved you; go in peace.” Luke 7:50
She came carrying a reputation.
She left carrying peace.
Psalm 3:3 says,
“But you, LORD, are a shield around me, my glory, the One who lifts my head high.”
Psalm 3:3
I love that picture.
Shame makes us look down.
But Jesus lifts our heads.
I can almost picture her there on the floor, tears falling as she wiped His feet with her hair. Maybe she couldn’t even bring herself to look up.
And I wonder if Jesus gently lifted her chin.
I wonder if He looked into her tear-filled eyes and simply said,
“My child.”
Scripture doesn’t record Him saying those words, but I can imagine the tenderness of that moment.
And then He told her what we know He said:
“Go in peace.”
Can you imagine?
The woman who had every reason to keep looking down was given a reason to lift it.
Jesus didn’t erase what she had done. He met her in the middle of it, forgave her, and gave her peace to walk forward.
You are not a mistake.
You are not your past.
You are no the name someone gave you.
You don’t have to keep looking down at what Jesus has already forgiven.
Your past may be part of your story, but it doesn’t get to write the ending.
Jesus does.
And I can almost picture Him still doing what He did for her, gently lifting your chin, looking you in the eyes, and reminding you:
“You are Mine.”
He is still the One who lifts your head high.
Take A Moment
1. What is something that you’ve allowed to make you keep your head down even though Jesus has already offered you forgiveness and peace?
2. What would it look like for you to lift your head today and walk forward in the freedom Jesus has given you?
Prayer
Lord,
Thank You that I don’t have to hide from You.
You know every mistake, every regret, and every broken piece of my story and You still love me.
When shame tells me to look down, remind me to look to You.
Help me believe that I am not my past, my mistakes, or the names others have given me. I am Yours.
Thank You for Your forgiveness and grace. Remind me that I am chosen, redeemed, and deeply loved by You.
Help me walk forward without allowing yesterday to write tomorrow.
And when I forget who I am, remind me that I belong to You.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
