"You have freed me when I was hemmed in and ENLARGED me when I was in distress." (Psalm 4:1, Amplified).

         Young's Literal, "In adversity Thou gavest ENLARGEMENT to me.
         Smith-Goodspeed, "Thou who didst give me ROOM when I was distressed. J. N. D. Translation, "In pressure Thou hast ENLARGED me."
         How awesome are the ways and workings of our God, and often so contrary to what the carnal mind would expect-- "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways, saith the Lord." (Isa. 55:8). We ask for the fullness of His life within, and He sends us more of the inworking of His cross-- death to self-- until we almost despair that there will ever be any manifestation of His life. Yet Paul expressed the principle very well, when he stated his own desire and experience-- "I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ." (Phil. 3:8) First comes the suffering the loss of all things-- that is, the stripping away of all that self once trusted in, gloried in, until finally it is regarded as mere filth, and willingly discarded, so that I might WIN CHRIST. "ALL LOSS" precedes the "ALL GAIN," for nothing of the old will be brought into the new. The stripping is essential preparation for what is coming.
       Then Paul went a little further in his disclosure-- for having desired to KNOW Christ "in the power of His resurrection," he realized it would be necessary first to know Him "in the fellowship of His sufferings, being made conformable unto His death." (Phil. 3:10). Again, the DEATH WORKING precedes the RESURRECTION LIFE.
         But he takes it one step further when he says, verse 11, "If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead." Note the word "attain," from the Greek "katantao" meaning: to arrive; but it is made more intensive with the preposition "kata"' that means: DOWN. Thus in effect he is saying, “That I may come down low enough that I might come up in the resurrection out from among the dead." How often have we heard it said, in regards to spiritual things, that THE WAY UP IS DOWN. This is what Paul is saying-- that there is a COMING DOWN LOW ENOUGH, in conformity to His death, sharing His poverty, "that through His poverty ye might be rich."(1 Cor.8:9). The negative that God uses in the bringing forth of HIS POSITIVES is often far more than the natural mind can comprehend-- how can GOD be in all of this? But He IS! And He is working all things together into our good.
          "You freed me when I was hemmed in..." How precious is the knowing that "Thy walls are continually before Me." (Isa. 49:16). Impatient creatures that we are, we soon tire of our walls, our restrictions; and carnal ideas come creeping into our mind-- we are sure that God has long forgotten that He placed us in this situation. (IF we believe HE even put us there in the first place). We are ready to start our search for a special "deliverance ministry" that can help us escape our prison, forgetting that HE WILL FREE US once He has accomplished His purpose through our being hemmed in with all these various things used for our walls/barriers. Just remember...
         Trials hard do not a prison make, nor testings yet the vessel break, The anvil helps to shape the whole-- the fire purifies the soul. A prison is a dismal state wherein the soul bemoans its fate, And binds itself in bitter gloom, a wounded ego to entomb. Our circumstance, God allowed, with wind and heat and dark storm cloud, Are all arranged within His time, they come to pass, then peace sublime. The darkened walls of valleys deep are not a prison for to keep Thee in their grip, but just a part of that which now perfects the heart. Blue skies and sun, to man, are sweet, but weather fair will not complete The vessel He doth foreordain to stand a king, in His domain. He holds the key for every life, and 'mid the atmosphere so rife Tenderly molds the inner man, to meet the fullness of His plan.
         "You have freed me when I was hemmed in." Sometimes He removes the walls and we are overwhelmed by the expanses which surround us, but other times He FREES US WITHIN-- this is the greater freedom, where we can inwardly "stand fast in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free." (Gal. 5:1). But whether He changes the circumstance, or changes US in the circumstance, the working is designed for one purpose, that we might become more like Him-- conformed to His image, and one in His divine nature.
         "And enlarged me when I was in distress." The Hebrew word for "distress" is "tsar" and has been translated several ways, though they all are related to the same thought-- close, narrow, strait, adversity, affliction, sorrow, tribulation-- from a root, to cramp; thus it speaks of a tight place. Ah, how often have we felt things closing in on us, curtailing our freedom of movement, be it sickness, financial difficulties, involvements that are not of our making, but which have engulfed us, times of distress, etc. Yet the Psalmist indicates that it is these very things which God uses to enlarge us. I wanted to expand, and He put me in a strait place. I wanted room to grow, and He cramped my style from every direction-- and all I could do was cry out "Not my will, but Thine be done," and know that somehow the prayer He placed within would be fulfilled, regardless of present appearances.
         Tucked among the names of a genealogy list in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, is a very brief record of Jabez, and how that he "Called on the God of Israel, saying, Oh that Thou wouldest bless me indeed, and ENLARGE MY COAST, and that Thine hand might be with me, and that Thou wouldest keep me from evil, that it may not grieve me! And God granted him that which he requested." We are not told of any of the processes which he went through, though his name alone gives us a strong clue for Jabez means: to grieve, sorrowful. And Moffatt bluntly translates this-- "Called him Jabez (HURT), crying, It hurt me to bear him." Branded with the name HURT, or, the sorrowful one, would place a negative stigma/shame hard to bear. But God placed within his heart a desire to break out of this negativity, and to ENLARGE HIS COAST, stretch his borders, and we are told GOD GRANTED him his request.
         "Lord, expand my vision, my horizon! No longer would I be a self-centered person, but I would be an expression of Your love nature, ready to bless others." God hears this cry of the heart, and He will grant our request, but the means and methods He uses are often just the opposite of what we might think-- and then we really need to keep focused on Christ, and not on the outward appearance of our circumstances.
         How often David found himself in a tight place, and had to confess, "As for me, my feet were almost gone; my steps had well nigh slipped." (Ps. 73:2). And then he would cry out unto God again. "Unless the Lord had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence. When I say, My foot slippeth; Thy mercy, O Lord, held me up." (Ps. 94:17-18). The pressures were almost overwhelming, squeezed into a tight place there was scarcely a spot for his foot, it was about to slip-- and in desperation he cried out unto the Lord. He would have to find his stability and security in the Lord. It worked-- he was able to bear witness to the mercies of God. "Thou hast enlarged my steps under me; so that my feet did not slip." (2 Sam. 22:37).
         Truly, our God is "Able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy." (Jude 24).
         That the application is INTERNAL, not external, is verified when we read, Psalm 119:32, "I will run the way of Thy commandments, when Thou shalt enlarge my heart." The room is to be WITHIN. It is written, "Thy commandment is exceeding broad (enlarged)" (Ps. 119:96) and we need our heart enlarged so as to embrace these expanses of God. No more trying to balance our foot in a tight place, once our heart is enlarged and we are able to RUN in His way. Running takes room-- a progressive outreach, and it is only as our heart is enlarged that we are able to stretch out and lay hold of that for which we have been apprehended. HIS EXPANSES ARE REVEALED IN THE ENLARGEMENT OF OUR OWN HEART. If your vision/revelation is so small that you are cramped in a corner, there will be no running forward.
         Solomon sought God for wisdom and understanding, and so "God gave Solomon wisdom and understanding exceeding much, AND LARGENESS OF HEART." (1 Kings 4:29). It is out of the abundance of the heart that the blessings are to flow. Yet Paul had to challenge the Corinthians, "0 ye Corinthians, our mouth is open unto you, OUR HEART IS ENLARGED. Ye are not straitened in us, but ye are straitened in your own bowels." (2 Cor. 6:11-12). There was plenty of room in Paul's heart, he was ever ready to "spend and be spent," (2 Cor. 12:15), but they could not receive his largeness of heart, because they were bound up in themselves. They needed an enlargement, but not outwardly. They didn't need any more room for flesh to do its thing. They needed to be LOOSED INTERNALLY, to be able to receive the love flowing out of Paul's heart, and in turn have love overflow from their own heart. When we are straitened in ourselves, we find it difficult to either receive or give-- it is a miserable condition. Centered in self is a horrible state, for we are restricted, confined, and shriveled up in carnality. This has nothing to do with GOD-CAUSED restrictions, tight places, etc. They are designed with a positive goal in view-- enlarging us in Him. But when it is self that has withered our soul, that needs a definite application of the cross, into death, that His resurrection life might come forth.
         When our GOD puts us in a strait place, it is not to leave us cramped and disfigured, but actually He uses our distresses to increase our capacity-- and it is amazing what growth takes place in such divine handiwork. It is amazing how many people have found that when confined to their bed, laid flat on their back and unable to move, yet God uses that time to so enlarge them inwardly that out of their spirit flows praise and worship, a spring of living water. "Thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress." Amazing!
         Young's Literal translation: "In adversity Thou gavest enlargement to me."
         Perhaps one of the most vital, essential things to know in our adversity, is that GOD is the FIRST CAUSE of all that comes our way to process us - right?
                                                  Our God controls the interplay of evil with the good, and He
                                                  Doth hold the balance in His hand, all forces bow to His command,
                                                  To yet fulfill His plan for thee.
                                                  He surrounds us with adversity, and the contrary winds do blow,
                                                  We reel beneath the storms and find He hemmed us in, and made us blind,
                                                  And how we wonder why 'tis so.
                                                  But He doth discipline and train, and works His purpose with great skill.
                                                  Till we acknowledge He alone is God who sits upon the throne,
                                                  And we surrender to His will.
                                                  We learn to praise and give Him thanks, Controller of our nights and days.
                                                  Nor seek we yet to thus escape the cup we drink, the bitter grape,
                                                  But worship Him for all His ways.
                                                  He doth deliver in His time, and cause our hearts to overflow
                                                  With joy and gladness, perfect peace, DIVINE ENLARGEMENT, full release,
                                                  Till all the earth His truth shall know.
        Acknowledging the HAND OF GOD in all that comes our way makes it easier to deal with some of the thoughts and feelings that arise-- namely, the desire to "escape" out of all our difficult moments. Escapism and overcoming are certainly at the two opposite ends of the spectrum-- in fact, escapism is an enemy to overcoming. It is in facing up to our times of adversity, with a holding steady in our trust in the Lord, that works for our enlargement.
         We spiritually grow and develop a maturity in Him when we realize that "Our light, momentary afflictions (this slight distress of the passing hour} is ever more and more abundantly preparing and producing and achieving for us an everlasting weight of glory - beyond all measure, excessively surpassing all comparisons and all calculations, a vast and transcendent glory and blessedness never to cease! Since we consider and look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are visible are temporal (brief and fleeting}, but the things that are invisible are deathless and everlasting." (2 Cor. 4:17-18, Amplified).
         Obviously it becomes a real exercise and discipline to hold our inner vision on the spiritual realm, especially when our flesh cries out in such protest against the situation. And it must also be acknowledged that these adversities can only WORK FOR US while they are allowed to continue-- until God has accomplished what He purposed by them. Any escape from them would immediately terminate their working in our behalf. Not that they are upon us indefinitely, but as the Psalmist said, "My times are in Thy hand," and so we remain committed to HIS HANDIWORK, knowing that adversity will not continue one moment longer than is needed for the task at hand. God does not take a delight in tormenting us with distress, rather, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because His compassion fail not. They are new every morning: great is His faithfulness." (Lam. 3:22-23).
         How precious is the truth that "In all their affliction He was afflicted." (Isa. 63:9). The Hebrew word for "affliction" used here literally means: "straitness." How marvelous-- when He shuts us up in a tight place, He then enters right into that cramped corner with us-- not to make it even more distressful, but to work an enlargement-- we cannot expand ourselves, but THE CHRIST WITHIN CAN READILY EXPAND US until there is so much more room. Room to shout and praise Him, room to fall at His feet in worship.
        One very vivid illustration for "straightness," literally and figuratively, is found in Jonah. "I cried by reason of mine affliction (Heb. straitness) unto the Lord, and He heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice." (Jonah 2:2). It is obvious that Jonah was in a very tight place spiritually. When God would send him to Nineveh, there was no room in his heart for them, and he took off in the other direction. So it was time for an ENLARGEMENT PROCESS, until there was room for the people of Nineveh. To work this expansion in Jonah, God first places him in a very strait place, cramped into tight quarters beyond belief, in the belly of a whale. Put the squeeze on tight enough, and Jonah began to pray-- by reason of "mine affliction/straitness." He readily confessed it was because of the tight situation he got into that he was ready to PRAY, AND EXPAND his horizon-- first to God-ward, and then toward Nineveh as well. Distressful as it was, it worked a tremendous enlargement in him, and then God gave him room literally as well, and the fish deposited him out on dry land. One can only imagine how he stretched every leg and arm, etc. grateful to be able to freely move about once more. And without belaboring the point, no one experience does a total work within us, we are changed by degrees, so further into the record of Jonah God had to deal with him some more. But suffice it for now to note how the straitness worked for an enlargement.
         The Living Bible Paraphrased gives us a beautiful wording for James 1:2. "Dear brothers, is your life full of difficulties and temptations? Then be happy, for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don't try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete."
       TO GROW requires that we do not try to squirm out of our distresses, there is no escapism if we are to grow, but we yield to God's in working, and find that HE in us overcomes and brings the victory. There are often those hard hearted souls who will come along and tell you that your difficulties are because of some sin you committed, some error you made-- so it is all your fault. They do not understand the working of God, and there is no way you can explain it to them. But you can "TELL IT TO JESUS," and lay it all out before Him-- not because He doesn't already know about it, you cannot tell Him anything new about the situation, HE WAS THE ONE WHO PLANNED IT-- just as He had the fish waiting to swallow Jonah. But there is a "casting all your cares upon Him," (1 Peter 5:7), and as you roll your burden on the Lord, you will find an inner enlargement beginning to take place, until you can even praise Him for those who spoke negatively about your testing time.
         Yes, as one translation gives, "In pressure Thou hast enlarged me.”
         There is a poem by Louise S. Pridgeon that expresses this so beautifully:
                                                   "Pressed out of measure and pressed to all length,
                                                   Pressed so intensely it seems, beyond strength;
                                                   Pressed in the body and pressed in the soul.
                                                   Pressed in the mind till the dark surges roll.
                                                   Pressure by foes, and a pressure from friends,
                                                   Pressure on pressure, till life nearly ends.
                                                   Pressed into knowing no helper but God;
                                                   Pressed into loving the staff and the rod.
                                                   Pressed into liberty where nothing clings;
                                                   Pressed into faith for impossible things.
                                                   Pressed into living a life in the Lord,
                                                   Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured." PRAISE GOD!
             Jesus clearly told His disciples, "In the world you shall have tribulation (Greek word here is PRESSURE): but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). As long as we are in this present world arrangement there will be pressures, straitness, distresses to try us. Just about the time you think conditions have leveled off and might go smoothly for a while, pressure comes in from another area, and you are struggling to climb over it. But in the midst of it all, He says, "Be of good cheer." Why? Because HE has overcome the world, and now abides in us to help us to partake of the same victory. "Pressed into living a Christ-life outpoured." That sums it up so beautifully. He presses us out of our "self" and into "HIM-SELF," until we cry out, as did Jonah, "Salvation is of the Lord." Amen!
         What LARGENESS is to be found in Him! He promised that the day would come when there would be the "bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in LARGE pastures." (Isaiah 30:23).
         This immediately brings us back to Paul's statement, mentioned earlier. His desire was-- "That I may WIN Christ." Win-- from the Greek word "kerdaino" and means: TO GAIN. Then we find that our English word "gain" comes from the German word "weida" meaning: pasturage; literally, a pasture without fences. When God brings us into the fulness of our union with Christ, it is into a realm without fences-- unlimited pasture. Until we are "found in Him," it is obvious that He must place a RESTRAINT upon us, to hold us from utter destruction. Only when we are ONE IN HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS will we be able to handle such tremendous freedom. But the more we come to that total surrender, "I delight to do Thy will, 0 my God," then He can remove all the fences, for we would live only as expressions of His will, to His glory and praise. Thus, paradoxical as it may seem, the more we are GLUED TO HIM, to cleave to Him, the greater our freedom in Him-- to partake of the fulness of His life.
       God asked Job the question, "Hast thou perceived the breadth (LARGENESS) of the earth?" (Job 38:18). Certainly many could well be challenged with this again today, because they are so cramped in their vision, so limited to the activities of their particular religious institution. Yet Jesus said, "For God so loved the world." (John 3:15), and He surely meant THE WHOLE WORLD, for the Psalmist declared, "The earth is the Lord's, AND THE FULNESS THERE- OF; the world, and they that dwell therein." (Psalm 24:1). It is unique to find that the more we are CUT OFF from man's religious institution, being separated unto Him, extremely limited in our outreach with others of like precious faith, isolated and alone with God, yet all the more we find that our vision is expanded, to believe, yes, KNOW that "As truly as I live, ALL THE EARTH shall be filled with the glory of the Lord." (Numbers 14:21). And again, "For the earth shall be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea." (Hab. 2:14). It takes LARGENESS OF HEART to be able to believe that ALL THE EARTH shall be filled with His glory-- and "ALL shall know Me, from the least to the greatest." (Heb.2:11) It takes us beyond praying for "us four, and no more," when He enlarges our vision to encompass the breadth of the earth. Praise His holy name!
         “Sing, 0 barren, thou that didst not bear; break forth into singing, and cry aloud, thou that didst not travail with child: for more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife, saith the Lord. ENLARGE THE PLACE OF THY TENT, and let them stretch forth the curtains of thine habitations: spare not, lengthen thy cords, and strengthen thy stakes; For thou shalt break forth on the right hand and on the left; and thy seed shall inherit the nations..." (Isa. 54:1-3).
         Those now married to the religious realms, with all their programs, boasting of their number and their works, will find themselves silenced when God begins to show the INCREASE He has purposed for those "in straitness with Him." It is working for a multiplication which exceeds all that we can ask or think. So used to the tight place, the pressure, etc. that we are awed by the vision of ENLARGEMENT He now sets before us. To God be the glory!
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(1)Prinzing, Ray and Doris "Letters of Truth"  Boise, Idaho 83705, P.O. Box 5822

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