Scripture for Today: Psalm 118:5  “In my distress I cried out to the Lord.  The Lord answered me and put me in a wide open place.”

Thankfully, I have never experienced claustrophobia firsthand.  In reading about it, this phobia sounds awful.  People who suffer from this irrational fear of confined spaces can get the shakes, sweat, and have heart palpitations.  They may yell or cry, feeling as if the walls are closing in on them.  Their panic drives them to get out by any means possible.  For self-help, people use visualization or do their best to avoid small closed spaces.  Perhaps what these sufferers visualize is a wide open place.

Our verse for today comes from a psalm of thanksgiving.  God has proven Himself faithful yet again.  Enemies have been vanquished and the people are celebrating!  The king had cried out in the distress of the enemies’ attacks and the Lord answered and put him in a wide open place.  This feeling of distress may well have resembled what the claustrophobic experiences.  Being surrounded by the enemy and seeing them close in must have been terrifying.

I may not have the distress of enemies attacking, but I do feel surrounded on all sides by different pressures.  The distress of finances, health issues, coming changes or family issues can feel like the walls are closing in on me.  If I allow my imagination to join in I can easily slip into a state of panic!  The only and best thing to do is to cry out to the Lord.  In His lovingkindness, He pushes back the walls.  He leads me to wide open places where there are green pastures and quiet waters. (Psalm 23:2)

Lord, help me to stay in that wide open place of trusting You.