He brought me out into a broad place; he delivered me, because he delighted in me. (Psalm 18:19)
I read this verse recently, and it reminded me of a conversation we had during staff meeting regarding the upcoming Gospel text for Sunday. This Sunday’s Gospel text is the story of Jesus’ baptism, where God says to Jesus, “with you I am well-pleased.” At staff meeting we were asked to reflect on what words God would say (or did say) to us in our baptism. With a little bit of a joking spirit, we threw around phrases like, “there’s still hope for you,” or “you are a work in progress.”
But here again is something about God delighting in humanity. What does it mean for God to delight (or be well-pleased) in me? Is that a feeling reserved for Jesus and the psalmist, or is it something I can claim for myself? What’s the difference between hearing God say to me, “I’m not done with you yet,” and “You bring me delight…with you I am well-pleased…right now…just as you are”?
It made me wonder who brings me delight, and to whom I might bring delight. I could quickly bring to mind several children and young adults who are truly delights to me. I think of the kids who have a way of getting me to laugh and play. I think of the time I dropped off a kid I was taking care of at daycare, and walked away holding back tears because I wanted so badly for him to have a good day and to not get hurt. I think of the young adults who I so deeply want to discover all that I see within them. I think of the friends who I genuinely trust would be there if I needed them.
But why is it hard to imagine God saying to us, “you are my beloved child…with you I am well-pleased…you delight me”? Why is it much easier to imagine God saying, “well…there’s still work to be done…”? Is not the power of our baptism that we, too, hear the words God said to Jesus: “this is my (child)”? If that’s what God says to us in our baptism, then maybe it’s not too far of a stretch to say that, despite our imperfections and flaws, we bring God delight!
And so, this verse from Psalms sets a framework for 2016, and invites some open-ended questions:
To what broad places will God bring me?
From what will I be delivered?
Beneath it all, how might I find peace and rest in God’s delight of me?