Delighting in Darkness

If I were stranded on a deserted island and could only have one book of the Bible with me, I would probably choose Psalms. I love the Psalms for their honesty and realness, particularly when it comes to dealing with trials or discouragement. Whenever I'm struggling with my emotions and want to find words of comfort and encouragement, Psalms is usually the book I turn to first.

Though I've read all of the Psalms more than once, I'm still constantly finding certain words or phrases to leap out at me at different times. It's amazing how often God will reveal some little nugget of truth about Himself just when I need it the most.

This week has been no exception. A couple of days ago I found myself hunkered down in Psalm 63, which is one of the many Psalms written by David. According to the footnote in my Bible, this Psalm was probably one of the ones David wrote when he was on the run from his son Absalom. The verse that caught my attention this day was verse 7:

I think how much you have helped me; I sing for joy in the shadow of your protecting wings.

I thought about the phrase, "the shadow of your protecting wings." A shadow implies darkness, and darkness isn't something that we always like. We don't necessarily see it as a good thing. But here, David saw the darkness--the shadow--as a form of protection.

I wonder how many times I've seen darkness in my life and didn't recognize it as God's shadow of protection over me. I am sure that there are many things that I've cried about and complained about that God withheld from me out of a desire to protect me. There are doors that He has closed in order to provide me with something better. I want, like David, to be able to rejoice in God's protective shadow.