Psalm 18 is one of David’s songs, sung when the Lord rescued him from his enemies and from Saul. This happened so many times, right? The Bible doesn’t clearly state how long David was on the run from Saul, but some scholars estimate it was about seven to ten years.
During that time, David had a lot of practice at learning to forgive, learning to be content, and learning to trust God for the outcome. He’d already been anointed king, but his time had not yet come, and he refused to grab the throne from Saul. He was a man of patience. A man who made mistakes. A man who believed God’s timing was perfect even if difficult.
It seems this particular psalm was written after Saul’s death. David declares his love to God and proclaims God as his strength, shield, fortress, and more. This speaks of how intimately and doggedly David had pursued God thus far.
And close to the middle of this psalm, we come to David’s realization that this era is over. Not only was he rescued, but set in a safe place. The Message renders verse 19 this way: He stood me up on a wide-open field; I stood there saved—surprised to be loved!
I’m sure I’ve read Psalm 18 dozens of times, but about a year ago, my eyes lingered on verse 19. Oh, it needs the entire context, for sure, and yet it’s also clear and beautiful on its own. The Passion Translation says: Love broke open the way, and he brought me into a beautiful, broad place. He rescued me—because his delight is in me!
Are you getting the picture? It’s like you’ve been slogging through a dense forest. A jungle, maybe. It’s hard going, all this bush-whacking, and there isn’t really a trail. Maybe the weather isn’t so great, so let’s add in some cold rain. Oh, and mosquitoes! It’s miserable all the way around… and there’s a bad guy after you.
But then…
Incidentally, ‘but’ is one of my favorite story words. Why? Because it signals a change. There’s all this stuff BUT then something happens. Maybe unexpected. Something that adds a tweak in a new direction. It might be a minor deviation, but sometimes it’s a big twist.
In our jungle trek, the twist is breaking through the dense branches and roots and foliage to find yourself in a wide and pleasant place. Imagine being dirty and disheveled, stopping and staring in disbelief at the beautiful expanse in front of you. No more tripping over logs. No more mud and bugs and drizzle. The bad guy is gone, and with him, the feeling of panic.
You take a few steps forward, looking around in astonishment. This is amazing! You feel so safe. So loved.
That’s God, all the way. That’s what He loves to do in our lives. That’s what He did for David and what He longs to do for us.
As an author, it’s what I long to do for my characters, too. I long to point them to the God who rescues them, who brings them through the terrible things in their lives – some of them self-inflicted, but not all of them – and gives them hope and a future. Because, as I tell these stories, I also learn and grow and find hope. And readers tell me it happens for them, too.
As I contemplated a new series over last summer and fall, I came back to Psalm 18:19. What would it be like for characters to experience that wide and pleasant place after enduring difficulties in their lives?
Brittany Santoro and Treyan Ackerman each had their own dark periods, and neither is expecting the light to shine through any time now. Why would it, when they’ve been slogging through that nasty jungle for so long that they think they deserve to keep living there? When light is a distant memory they don’t foresee enjoying again?
But there is always hope, and writing A Wide and Pleasant Place taught me a lot about contentment and forgiveness and dealing with the negatives life may send our way. This novel, first in the new Farm Fresh Market Romance series, will be coming your way in just a few short weeks.
A Wide and Pleasant Place is now available for pre-order.
What has been a verse of hope and triumph you’ve clung to in dark times?
Valerie Comer is a USA Today bestselling author and a two-time Word Award winner who writes where food meets faith and fiction. She injects experience laced with humor into her green clean romances. Her life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their church. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily-ever-afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.
So many! But Isaiah 54:10-17 is the passage that gave me hope when our family was going through the darkest and most frightening time we’ve ever known. A dear friend who walked with us during that trial shared those verses with me. I prayed and cried over that passage more times than I can count, and God came through for us in every way.
welcome today. thank you for sharing this uplifting post today. I love how God obviously brought this idea to your mind and how you obeyed and ran with the story. thank you. one verse that has been with me since I was pregnant with our second and especially after she was born, and I was home with an infant and a toddler and the doctor was trying to get the right amount of medication for my epilepsy (don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t trade those times) is: Psalm 59:16 But I will sing of your strength, in the morning I will sing of your love; for you are my fortress, my refuge in times of trouble
Micah 7:7,8
As for me I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me.
……. Though I fall I will rise again.
Though I sit in darkness, the Lord will be my light.
Job 23:10 BUT He knoweth the way that I take; when He hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.
The verses I cling to through everything is Ecclesiastes 3:1-8. My absolute favorite verses! No matter what “season” I’m going through, this is always encouraging to me!
Thanks so much, Milla. Reading that passage this morning brought tears to my eyes.
Thank you for that verse and what it means to you. (((hug)))
Oh, Micah! So much wisdom and hope packed into that little book. Thank you for sharing.
Oh, Sharon. I appreciate this reminder. Thank you.
There is a time for everything… thank you for this reminder today!
Psalm 91 talks about dwelling in the secret place of the Most High & hiding under the shadow of the Almighty. It also promises that He will deliver you from “the snare of the fowler” and “from the perilous pestilence” and that “He shall cover you with His feathers and under His wings you shall take refuge.” The whole verse is so comforting, but those ones stood out to me many years ago when I was going through some tough and scary times. It’s like God lead me to read those passages just when I needed them. It not only comforted me, but gave me courage to go through that valley because He was with me, fighting my battles. I didn’t have to do it on my own, because I couldn’t in the first place, and that He was my comforter in times of trouble.
Oftentimes God will highlight a passage of scripture that’s perfect for whatever situation I’m in, good or bad. It’s so amazing when He does this :-) Those reminders of who God is to me gives me courage, hope, comfort, and encouragement just at the right time!
I love that, Trixi.
Sometimes the reverse is true, too. Psalm 18 was spoken into my life months ago. I wrote this blog post several weeks ago, and today “I” needed to hear the message again. There’s been a lot this week, let’s just leave it at that. And I needed God’s reminder of His love and care. The verses everyone is sharing are balm to my soul.
Psalm 23 is my go to.
Mark 9:23
“Everything is possible for one who believes.”
Psalm 23 is amazing :)
I love that. Thanks, Mary.
Psalm 91 and Jeremiah 29:11
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Philippians 4:13
Such a great reminder!
Oh, those are good ones!
I am holding onto Proverbs 3:5-6. I keep “Trusting in the Lord”. Thank you for sharing. God bless you.
Ah, that’s a GREAT one!
can’t think of any
Let time heal all
I am late forgot to come back today.
Psalm 121 is a psalm I love.
I know for mum it was Deuteronomy 33:27 The first half
The eternal God is thy refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms:
She would always say she never hit rock bottom she was resting in the everlasting arms.
Everyone else has given lots of references for you (and me) to look up :)
Time heals… with God’s help :)
Ah, that’s beautiful, Jenny!