He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Psalms 140:2-3 NIV
Have you ever found yourself in a deep dark pit of fear, rejection, abandonment, or abuse and wondered how you got there? You are not alone. I struggled to get out of these pits for thirty-eight years within family and marriage relationships.
I did not understand how unhealthy these relationships were and I never realized I could do something to change my connection to them until I was thirty-three. You see, we all operate out of what we have known. Because I had only know unhealthy relationships from an early age, I thought living from one pit to the next was “normal.”
When you are in a pit, you hear familiar voices the loudest. If these voices are the imperfect people who devastate your spirit and heart, or they are your self-criticism, it is hard to hear the voice of Jesus telling you he loves you. In fact, if you do not have a personal relationship with Jesus and learn God’s truth for yourself, it is hard to trust and believe there are any other options for you in life. This deception comes from the one who wants you to stay in the pit, the devil. He wants you to believe you are destined to live your life moving from pit to pit.
In every pit of life, you come to a place of choice. Do you believe and trust the imperfect voices of others and yourself as truth or do you seek to know, trust, and follow Jesus, the Son of God who proved you were worth dying for?
Has living life your way brought you more pain and despair or healing, peace, and love? It is time for you to take charge of your spirit, heart, and soul (your mind, will, emotions, attitudes, and actions). You have the opportunity and the help of the Creator of the universe, your Father God to be free. You have the hand and partnership of Jesus Christ to walk with you through every minute of every day. Seek to know Jesus by studying God’s word. He promises to speak to you and give you what you need in His word, so seek Him, and He will be there.
God and Jesus Christ anchor the rope hidden in the darkness of your pit. Reach for it, and they will help you climb out into the light. They will help you grow and be transformed by grace so you can see the camouflage hiding the deep pits in life. They will be the net you fall into and the bounce that propels you out like a trampoline. They will walk through life with you just as God walked with Jesus.
Until we reach the arms of Jesus, we will face trials on this broken earth filled with imperfect people. Honoring Jesus with our service of love is to throw the ropes of the gospel to other people in their pits. It is to help them discover and foster a personal relationship with Jesus. Through our actions and God’s grace they, like you and me, will be lifted from the slimy pits in their life. They can learn how to live in healthy relationships where they live safe, secure, and loved.
What pits have given you problems in your life?
