I want to add a ‘P.S’ to our look at Psalm 35. We have noticed that although David was undergoing a great trial, he nevertheless held to a conviction that all would be well (10, 18 and 28).

When I was going through a very ‘dark valley’, just over a decade ago, I visited one of my oldest and best friends, Gordon. He lives in Hale, in Cheshire. We spent a special day walking and talking at a National Trust property near his home. But before we went back to his house, he took me to see an old friend of his – an elderly widow. He said a little bit to her about my situation. I guess I had been more honest with Gordon about my true feelings than with anyone else, but I probably hadn’t even let my most trusted friend know the last 20% of the darkness and fear I was in. Then this dear godly lady quoted to me some words of Juliana of Norwich:

‘All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well.’

Those words hit me with prophetic force. I believe they were a word from the Lord to my soul at that time. It is true, of course, that this is ultimately true for all believers: in eternity ‘All shall be well.’ But I sensed, that day, as her prayer and her words filled me with peace, that God was going to do something about the heavy burden I was carrying in time, and so it came about. That very evening I received a phone call during which I felt the mist already starting to lift a little, and I want to give God all the praise and glory for the manifestation of His grace and power…

…and for friends! Even in this dark and lonely place, David knew he had friends (27). Let’s treasure our friends and thank God for the ways he works and speaks through them.