Be Brave Enough to Feel – Psalm 18:When the LORD delivered David from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul.

As a novelist, I’ve been taught that every part of my story must build tension toward my hero or heroine’s darkest moment. Then there is a single, crucial scene when the story turns, followed by the happily ever after (abbreviated in the writer world as HEA). Does life imitate art, or does art imitate life? Though in real life we only get one happily ever after—eternal life with Jesus—I’ve noticed the pattern of “darkest moment, climax, and breakthrough” in real life as well. And with each of those ups and downs, our emotions feel as if they’re riding the craziest roller coaster ever created! The despair of the dark times meets the hope of rescue and then bathes in the relief of breakthrough. Granted, we might experience all these emotions in an hour! Or a day. Or each stage might linger for years, and the flicker of hope nearly dies to despair. But breakthrough always comes, dear friend. If you know Jesus, we need never be without hope.

• Take a moment to review your life. Have there been seasons that follow the pattern of building tension, climactic change, and breakthrough?

The pattern holds true many times throughout David’s life. We see one example in 1 Samuel 23:24-29 after the Ziphites betray David’s location to Saul. Israel’s king is closing in on David and his troops; Saul’s army on one side of a desert mountain, David and his men on the other. When the two forces are about to converge, a messenger from Saul’s palace in Gibeah delivers a message with news of a Philistine attack in the north. Saul immediately breaks off pursuit of David and leads his whole army home to defend Gibeah. There it is: tension, climax, breakthrough!

As with most of David’s major life experiences, he shares his big emotions with the world through song. And in Psalm 18:1-6, he gives us some general clues on how to express our emotions to God:

1. Express how we feel toward God (v.1) – Do you love Him? Angry at Him? Want to love Him? Want to trust Him more?
2. Describe who God is to you with pictures (v.2) – David was with his army in a desert, so he used rock, shield, and horn. Maybe you’re in your kitchen, so God is like your…refrigerator, preserving you for the hard days to come.
3. Recall a time when God was worthy of your praise (v.3) – When has He healed you, helped you, comforted you, saved you?
4. Using the instances you recalled above, think about how you felt BEFORE He rescued you (vs.4-5) – What emotions hurt your heart during your darkest times?
5. What emotions do your current circumstances evoke? Call out to the same faithful God who will continue to hear and answer your prayer (v.6).

• If you’re enjoying a period of peace, read Psalm 18:46-50 to turn your heart heavenward with praise. Then add your personal worship to the God who loves you.