Lift Up My Head, O Lord: Finding Strength in Adversity- Rev. Dr. Idowu Declares

Dr. Afolabi Olajuwon 

Rev. Dr. Babatunde Idowu Urges Christians to Look Beyond Troubles and Trust the God Who Restores

Following a spirited ministration by the church choir, Rev. Dr. Babatunde Idowu, Senior Pastor and District Overseer of Foursquare Gospel Church, Wuse, Abuja, delivered a first-Sunday sermon titled “Lift Up My Head, O Lord.”

             Rev. Dr. Babatunde Idowu 

Drawing from Psalm 3:1–5 and Zechariah 1:17–21, he reminded worshippers that adversity may weaken the human spirit, but cannot defeat those whose confidence remains in God.

Psalm 3 was written during David’s flight from his rebellious son, Absalom. David lamented:

“Lord, how they have increased who trouble me! Many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say of me, ‘There is no help for him in God.’ But You, O Lord, are a shield for me, my glory and the One who lifts up my head.”

Psalm 3:1–3

Rev. Dr. Idowu noted that David faced both troubles and “troublers”, people who deliberately multiplied his pain, as well as voices insisting that God would not help him.

He led the congregation to pray, “Lift up my head, O Lord,” asking that nothing would remove them from their God-given places, frustrate their destinies or defeat them through internal conflict.

“Nothing will drag you away from your throne. Nothing will take your destiny out of your hands, and no internal battle will defeat you,” he proclaimed.

When the Battle Comes from Within:

He traced David’s crisis to Absalom’s bitterness after the violation of his sister Tamar by Amnon. Absalom eventually killed Amnon, returned to Jerusalem and began turning the people against David.

At the city gate, he listened to grievances and gradually “stole the hearts of the men of Israel” (2 Samuel 15:6).

Rev. Dr. Idowu warned that unchecked bitterness can become rebellion, while manipulation can steal loyalty from families, institutions and relationships.

David fled Jerusalem, crossing the Brook Kidron and ascending the Mount of Olives weeping, barefoot and with his head covered (2 Samuel 15:23, 30). Yet he refused to let suffering define him. Instead, he declared that God was his shield, glory and lifter of his head.

The congregation prayed, “Lord, deliver me from bitter tears.”

Refusing Discouragement

David’s greatest challenge was not only his enemies but the voices saying, “There is no help for him in God.”

Rev. Idowu explained that discouragement distorts a believer’s view of God, suggesting that prayer is useless and the situation beyond redemption. David, however, shifted his focus from his circumstances to God.

The word “but” in Psalm 3:3 marks this spiritual transition. David acknowledged his troubles but refused to make them his focus.

“There will be troubles, troublers and disturbing voices,” the minister said. “But they must not become your focus. David’s focus was God: ‘But You, O Lord.’”

Faith does not deny adversity; it declares that adversity has no final authority.

God Frustrates Evil Counsel:

David’s trusted counsellor, Ahithophel, joined Absalom’s conspiracy. David prayed, “O Lord, I pray, turn the counsel of Ahithophel into foolishness” (2 Samuel 15:31).

God answered through Hushai, who persuaded Absalom to delay his attack. This gave David time to escape and reorganise.

The incident showed that God can answer prayer through people, decisions and ordinary circumstances. He can overturn sophisticated conspiracies and cause evil counsel to fail.

Rev. Idowu led the congregation to declare: “The counsel of God shall prevail in my life, my situation and my circumstances.”

God Remains Present in the Wilderness:

Though David was driven from the palace, God did not abandon him. People brought food, bedding and supplies to him and his followers (2 Samuel 16–17).

These provisions demonstrated God’s sustaining presence. David testified:

“I cried to the Lord with my voice, and He heard me from His holy hill. I lay down and slept; I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.”

Psalm 3:4–5

David slept amid danger because his security rested not on the absence of enemies but on God’s presence.

“If God delivered David, we have the assurance that He will also deliver us,” Rev. Dr. Idowu declared.

God Is Our Shield, Glory and Lifter:

He highlighted three descriptions of God in Psalm 3:3.

God is our shield, protecting us from forces intended to destroy us.

God is our glory, expressed through wisdom, courage, character and divine opportunity. Solomon’s judgment between two women and David’s victory over Goliath showed how one divinely enabled moment can reveal a person’s glory.

God is the lifter of our heads, restoring dignity, confidence, vision and hope. When He lifts the head, He enables people to see beyond present pain and move forward with courage.

The Four Horns and Four Craftsmen:

From Zechariah 1:17–21, Rev. Idowu explained that the four horns represented powers that had scattered God’s people, while the craftsmen represented God’s instruments of judgment and restoration.

“These are the horns that scattered Judah, so that no one could lift up his head; but the craftsmen are coming to terrify them, to cast out the horns of the nations...”

Zechariah 1:21

The vision also promised restoration:

“My cities shall again spread out through prosperity; the Lord will again comfort Zion, and will again choose Jerusalem.”

Zechariah 1:17

God promised not only to defeat His people’s enemies but also to restore prosperity, comfort and dignity.

Look to God, Not the Trouble:

He urged believers not to let troubles, troublers or discouraging voices dominate their attention. Drawing from Nahum 1:7, he reminded them:

“The Lord is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble; and He knows those who trust in Him.”

The congregation thanked God and declared:

“I shall not be a victim of increased troubles and increased troublers. Whether the trouble is physical, spiritual, material, matrimonial or intellectual, it will not consume me.”

The sermon ended with the assurance that victory does not depend on the absence of adversity but on the presence of God. He remains the shield, glory and lifter of His people.

Therefore, “Lift up my head, O Lord” is both a prayer and a declaration of confidence that sorrow will not have the final word, opposition will not prevail and every bowed head will rise again through God’s sustaining power.

Dr. Afolabi Olajuwon is a freelance writer and Christian educator based in Abuja, Nigeria, with a passion for documenting faith-based initiatives and their impact on communities.