When I was a kid, I spent most of my time outdoors. Whether riding my bike or making villages in the dirt, playing outside was my favorite. One afternoon, my sister and I and our friend next door were inspired by a truck bed full of oranges and decided they would make great grenades. We threw oranges, laughing and ducking behind anything to avoid the flying fruit. During that fruit-flying frenzy, I was searching for a safe, enclosed space to miss the oranges coming my way. There are moments when we need safe, cozy, enclosed places. There are also times when we long for an open, spacious place. Where do you find yourself at the moment?

I laugh as I think about throwing oranges as a kid, running for cover. Today, I know I can always run to Jesus, my covering. Jesus encloses us in His love yet offers freedom for us to thrive in a spacious place.

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

Psalm 18:19

David knew that God was his covering. Despite his enemies pursuing him, his faithfulness compelled him to sing praise to God. God delivered and rescued him from the darkness. While David knew his circumstances involved confrontations with his enemies, he chose to look to the One who was his support. He knew that as he was faithful, God would show Himself faithful.

When David was in deep waters, God rescued him. Our Father God does the very same for us. Are you overwhelmed by the enemy? God rescues. Do you feel misunderstood in an intense culture that glorifies all the earthly things? God rescues. Does it seem like you are drowning, trying to keep up? God rescues.

God brought David out into a spacious place. Just as God delighted in David, He delights in you. He has brought you out into a spacious place, a place of freedom and peace.

David was once hemmed in and confined by threats and dangers. Maybe you, too, have been hemmed in by the enemy at one time. The beauty of our Savior is that we are safely hemmed and woven together in the delight of our Father.

We have the freedom to delight in the spacious place that God has given us, yet we can also enjoy the truth that we are safely enclosed and hemmed in the love of God. We can be safely enclosed with God yet enjoy the spaciousness He offers.