A spacious place

 “Have faith in God,” Jesus replied.

“Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore, I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:22-24

        This verse was what my friend shared with me as I clung to her, overwhelmed and confused. She encouraged me to face the mountains of problems before me. With all the faith I could gather, I was to speak to those mountains, commanding them to break down. She then gently asked me, “What do you really desire?” Whatever it was, she said, I should lift it up in prayer to the Lord.

I knew what those mountains were. Mountains of despair, regret, anger, bitterness, challenges, struggles, and fears. 

But what did I truly desire? What were the deep, silent longings of my heart? At first, I didn’t know. So, I set out to find the answer. Today, as I read through the Psalms, God led me to Psalm 18.

“He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.” Psalm 18:19

A spacious place.

Yes, that’s what my heart longs for. A place free of constraint and limitation, a place where I am cherished.

“You make a spacious place beneath me for my steps, and my ankles do not give way.” Psalm 18:36

A spacious place is a place of security, where I don’t have to watch my every move or worry about what’s behind me.

“You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place.” Psalm 31:8

A spacious place is also a refuge, where I am safe.

“But those who suffer he delivers in their suffering; he speaks to them in their affliction. He is wooing you from the jaws of distress to a spacious place free from restriction, to the comfort of your table laden with choice food.” Job 36:15-16

A spacious place is a place free from restriction, where provision and comfort abound.

“You caused men to ride over our heads; we went through fire and water, but You brought us out to rich fulfillment.” Psalm 66:12

A spacious place is one of rich fulfillment, where the heart finds peace.

“In my distress, I called to the Lord, and He answered me. From deep in the realm of the dead, I called for help, and You listened to my cry.” Jonah 2:2

He brought me out into a spacious place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.