As I struggle this morning to write something that absolutely, positively must be written within the next two hours, the sixth section of Psalm 119 reminds me that God will not take the word of truth from my mouth and he will make me walk in a wide place.

I believe most writers struggle with doubts. At one time or another nearly every person fights the temptation to doubt themselves, their work, their actions, or their faith. Perhaps family members discourage them, perhaps others disparage them; certainly the devil taunts them. The writer of Psalm 119 proposes the only antidote.

Let your steadfast love come to me, O LORD,
   your salvation according to your promise;
then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me,
   for I trust in your word (41-42, ESV).

The psalmist trusts in God’s word. He prays for God’s love to be felt in his life as he remembers God’s great promise of salvation. Focusing on God’s biblical promises permits him not only to think in a way that banishes doubt, but also to speak in a way that silences his taunter.

Speech rooted in a love for God’s word enables the believer to walk in a wide place:

And take not the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
   for my hope is in your rules.
I will keep your law continually,
   forever and ever,
and I shall walk in a wide place,
   for I have sought your precepts (43-45, ESV).

Who knows where that “wide place” will be? It may be the important influence of a mother on the children she raises, it may be a word fitly spoken before co-workers, it may even be a published book with global influence.

I will also speak of your testimonies before kings
   and shall not be put to shame,
for I find my delight in your commandments,
   which I love (46-47, ESV).

We are all called to speak of God’s testimonies before whatever “kings” God places in our paths. We can never do this in our own strength, but only by the eqipping grace of God. We are not to worry about what we will speak because he will grant us the words we need to speak (or write!) in that very hour.

But before we can walk in whatever “wide place” God leads, we must continually immerse ourselves in God’s word:

I will lift up my hands toward your commandments, which I love,
   and I will meditate on your statutes (48, ESV).

Daily meditation on God’s word will increase our love for it as well as our ability to speak in every wide place.