Hello, reading friends!

I'm revamping my newsletter but not in a terribly big way. Instead of David's Fiction and Inspirational Newsletter, it will be called David Harlen Brooks: On Writing & Life: What I'm writing, reading, and learning along the way. Some issues will emphasize what I'm writing and reading. Some will emphasize what I'm learning. Some may include both. I hope these words give you something meaningful to think about.

What I'm Meditating On: Trust

“Those who know your name trust in you,

for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”

— Psalm 9:10

Building trust is like building a muscle: it strengthens incrementally as we exercise it. In weight training, this is called progressive overload. Each workout pushes the muscle beyond its previous capacity by adding weight, repetitions, sets, or frequency. In the process, the muscle is stressed, repairs itself, and becomes stronger, adding bulk and definition.

Similarly, building muscle and trust involve pain.

David faced situations that grew in intensity. He fought off predators threatening his father’s sheep, slew a giant, fled from King Saul, led Israel’s army against neighboring enemies, and endured betrayal by his son, Absalom.

But through those experiences, he learned to trust in the One greater than his fears. He said in Psalm 56:3,4, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.”

David learned to trust God as he came to know the names by which God revealed his character.

In Psalm 9:10, Yahweh is God’s covenant name, reflecting God’s faithfulness as a covenant-keeping God. In Psalm 56:3,4, Elohim emphasizes God’s power and sovereignty.

Based on those names and his experiences with God, David could write, “for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”

God didn’t take David out of his trials, but walked with him through his presence. God still meets us in the same way today, even when we fail, as David did.

Personally, I learned to see God as my Father, when my earthly father passed away. That trust helped me through life’s transitions: striking out on my own in Chicago after college, leaving the US to work in the Philippines when I knew no one there, getting married, and now trusting him to sustain my wife and I as we head towards retirement.

Whether we are deepening our relationship with God or passing through the stages of life, you can trust him with all your heart, and he will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5,6).

Coming Soon: A Home for Rodney

In my upcoming story, A Home For Rodney, Rodney must learn to trust adults who will not abandon him. Similarly, we learn to trust God as he proves himself faithful—again and again.

Latest Release: Behold, All Things Are Become New—A Short Story

When his abusive father appears uninvited on his wedding day, a groom must choose between forgiveness and the bitterness that could poison his marriage.

The story explores themes of generational wounding, forgiveness, and inner healing. If you haven’t already, you can download the story here. Discussion questions are now included.

Contact Me

I'd love to hear from you. You can email me at: broks.d.h@gmail.com (just one "o" instead of two).

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If you enjoy this newsletter and know someone else who might like it, please feel free to pass it along. It helps an indie writer like me to reach more people who enjoy transformative fiction and inspirational reflections.

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​That's it for now. Thank you for a moment of your time.

David Harlen Brooks

Previous Posts

​Pulling up the Roots of Bitterness—Practical steps toward forgiveness and the freedom it brings.

​Jesus Our Example: Forgiveness in the Midst of Pain—By forgiving others, Christians not only obey a command, but act in a way that reflects Jesus.

​God Forgives Us—And That Changes Everything—God's forgiveness is complete and transforming, moving us to forgive others.

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​Forgiveness Isn’t For Them, It’s For You—Discover how forgiveness brings freedom and healing—not for the offender, but for you.

​The Light of God—How God’s light, first spoken into a dark world, still brings clarity, hope, and transformation today through Christ.

​Out of the Mire—Psalm 40:1-3 reflects David’s trust in God deliverance and inspires others to recognize His glory.

​Mary Vs. The Taylor Swifts—You don't have to be famous to make an impact. God chooses faithful and available people.

​Goals: Hits and Misses in 2024—Two stories finished, one that didn't cross the finish line.

​God's Love Is...

​AI Takes on My Writing and My Top 3 Movies​

​Trust Your Heavenly Father—What I Learned About Trust in PE Class.

​Clay Pots—Common with Uncommon Results—God's surprising advertising strategy.