Are You Living Large?

God calls us to live in a broad place, full of freedom and under His delight.

I came from a small place. Yes, I did grow up in a small town but that is not what I am talking about. I lived the first twenty-eight years of my life with no real connection to God. I mean, I believed there was a God, somewhere, but He had nothing to do with me.

In my small world the only citizen that mattered was me. Yet, overcrowding was a real problem. I had many enemies competing for space in my domain – fear, shame, doubt, loneliness, selfishness, pride, hopelessness – and many others you may or may not be familiar with. I frequently felt like I was in a battle for my very life and I knew, without help, I would never win.

I love King David’s Song of Praise to the Lord in 2 Samuel, chapter 22. It is a detailed account of how God delivered him from the hand of Saul and from the hand of all his enemies. In the midst of very real danger, David called out to God, whom he named as his refuge, his stronghold and his Savior.

“He heard my voice,” declares David, “and my cry for help reached His ears.” (vs. 7)

One day, that is what I did. With only a smidge of faith and a huge helping of uncertainty, I cried out from my despair. I cried to a God I wasn’t even sure could, or would, hear me. Because I had come to believing that no matter what happened, it could not be worse than the life I was living.

Then something wonderful happened. Something so wonderful I can hardly think up words to aptly describe it. David’s Song tells the story. The Lord God “reached down from on high and took hold of me.” (vs. 17) Verse 20 goes on to say, “He brought me out into a spacious (broad or large) place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.”

My enemies (and yours) may not carry bows or spears (or slings and rocks?) but they are equally as ruthless and intent on harm as David’s were. These enemies are after our very soul. God rescues! He reaches His able, strong arm down into our little dark, crammed, walled up, hideaway space and He brings us out - into a broad place. What a marvelous notion!

This broad place is a place of freedom. There is no bondage to the oppression of sin, the harassment of guilt and shame, or the condemnation of failure. Freedom is a place of unrestricted movement and growth. We are only constrained by the boundaries of the truths in God’s word, which we are pleased to obey.

This broad place is a place of possibilities. We can do or be whatever or whomever God created us to do or be. Life is an endless exploration of splendid ideas and adventures God places before us. Soul-deep joy is possible. Blissful inner peace is possible. Renewed strength of body and spirit is possible. Greater ability to love others is possible.

This broad place is a place of protection and recovery. God’s love is the only wall around this broad place. In this place enemies are subject to God’s control. Psalm 18:27 says, “You have also given me the shield of Your salvation; Your right hand has held me up, Your gentleness has made me great.” In this place, with kind and gentle care, He touches all the hurting, damaged corners of our hearts and makes us fresh and new. He enables us to live larger than we ever dreamed we might.

Oh, and this phrase, “because He delighted in me”! How He delights – takes great pleasure, finds extreme satisfaction, feels triumphant joy – in you and me! We can never get to the end of God’s love, His promises or His blessings for us. He has a bountiful supply of all that we need.

I enjoy life so much better in a broad place. Sometimes though, on a weak day, I still need rescuing. God is always rescue-ready. There is no maximum amount of times He will be available to answer our cries. Are you living in a small place today? Use your tiny smidge of faith and give Him a call. He’ll be delighted to come get you.