It was soon after I had gone to the psychiatric hospital, after I had tried taking my life, that God told me something wondrous and totally beyond belief. My wife took me to see a Christian man who had spoken to me the day of my suicide attempt. I had taken the phone from my wife and had heard him say amazingly comforting words … soothing words … I can’t remember what they were, but they brought such peace and hope to my heart. I wanted to talk to him again. So, here was my opportunity … I had a full work week with this dynamic and loving man.
When I met with this godly man, it was not the darkness that I was under in the psychiatric hospital. Light was in this man’s eyes, when I could get myself past the shame and look into his face. The first place that he took me in the Holy Scriptures was Psalm 18. I wasn’t prepared for the strength of the verses he read to me … it almost knocked me over.
Verse 16-19 … “He sent from above, He took me; He drew me out of many waters. He delivered me from my strong enemy, from those who hated me, for they were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my calamity, but the LORD was my support. He also brought me out into a broad place; He delivered me because He delighted in me.”
How could God possibly delight in me? I felt so dirty and ashamed … so unworthy. But yet, God said, “He delivered me because He delighted in me.” This was because when God looked at me, He saw Jesus, the precious Lamb of God, without stain of sin or blemish of rebellion. God Himself had taken the hyssop and dipped it in the blood of Christ, then painted the door posts and the lintel of my heart, so that the angel of death would pass over me. I was floored by the mercy of my Almighty God. I stood in awe of His splendor. I worshipped my King and my Lord, “King of Kings and Lord of Lords”. Revelation 19:16
Again, in the Psalms, Psalm 149, God says: “Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise His name with the dance; let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation.”
God delights in His children who have put their faith and trust in Jesus alone.