Experiencing Change in Psalm 18

Please take some precious time and take out your Bible or open your Scripture app on your phone and spend some time with God in Psalm 18 before reading this article.

         I had the opportunity to be a part of a production of The Little Mermaid the summer after my first year of college. I was casted as one of Ursula’s eels, one of the bad guy’s minions. My costume was a black body suit with purple glitter. Someone slicked my hair back and bumped and frizzed my bangs. My make-up was dark green and reptilian, all over my face and arms. I also sported black lipstick and one eye covered in gold.

       Unlike the classic Disney movie, the stage’s version says that Ursula’s serpentine companions are electric eels. They send shockwaves through the water to enact the sea witch’s evil plans. I did some research on real-life electric eels.

         They have about 6000 cells known as electrocytes that allow them to produce this electricity. They can create a power of 600 volts, which is almost 5 times stronger than what is generated in a typical US wall socket. It is powerful mechanism that is mostly used in defense and distress. But this creature also has setbacks as well.

           Electric eels are mostly blind and use electric pulses within their bodies to move around and find food. These things can only live relying on the light and shock inside their tiny bodies.

While other animals can’t see the process, they can sure FEEL it when they come in contact.

            Sometimes I can’t find joy or contentment in the circumstances around me because I believe God is allowing me to discover that true joy and peace come from what is within me, what I can feel, but cannot see.

It is a continual lesson in letting God be enough for me.

            If we have accepted Jesus as our Almighty Savior, then we have the Holy Spirit living inside us. Jesus promised us this in Luke 24: 45-49.

“Then he opened their minds so they could understand the Scriptures. He told them, “This is what is written: The Messiah will suffer and rise from the dead on the third day, and repentance for the forgiveness of sins will be preached in his name to all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things. I am going to send you what my Father has promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.”

          Like these eels, we have a power inside us that is greater than the world can ever imagine. All we have to do is tap into it.

            I have recently come across in my Bible reading Psalm 18. David wrote this song of devotion and thanksgiving to the Lord after he was saved from King Saul, the man relentlessly trying to kill him. This Psalm truly shows how perfect God is for us. When we cry out to Him, He hears us. When we ask to be helped, He delivers us.

              The verse that drew my attention was verse 28: “You, Lord, keep my lamp burning; my God turns my darkness into light.”

               The key word here is “my.” It’s not “the darkness” or “their darkness” or “her/his darkness.” It’s “my darkness.”

                We all have our bits of darkness.

These can be feelings or desires we have a hard time controlling; situations or relationships that have hurt us and are still present in our lives, whether literally or emotionally. Darkness can really be anything that has the power to keep us from God if we let it.

            But if we choose to give it over to God, that changes everything.

           God doesn’t tell us that He will change our circumstances, but He will change us.

He will take that darkness you hate looking at, and use it to create the brightest and utmost beautiful light. When we do this, not only will we experience our lives changing, those around us will experience a change as well. Hopefully, they will ask us what is different, why we are the way we are.

          Then we can tell them about our loving Father, who changes His children from the inside out.