Getting Out of a Deep Hole in Life
Psalm 40:1-2 “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. 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.” (NIV)
The most difficult time in this life is when we are in a deep hole with no ability on our own part to relieve, retrieve, or restore the situation. We simply stand helpless, hapless, and hopeless to change our unhappy circumstances. In short, we are all gone, depleted, used up, and without a clue as to where to go and what to do next. It’s exactly in these times of our distress and extremity that we must learn to wait on God, who stands ready to save us and restore us to live boldly and courageously before others.
The Lord does this not because of who we are, but rather, because of who he is. His desire is always the salvation of our souls and the glory of his name. So when we come to Psalm 40, we must first recognize that David demonstrates in his life a firm recognition that when tough times come, we cannot cut and run or give up! What David did and what God expects from us is to wait patiently before him as we cry out for his deliverance. The truth of the matter is that our only help will come from our Lord, and we must turn to him and seek his power in our lives. God providentially will use people, circumstances, the Word, and prayer to touch our hearts and move us forward in our lives.
Notice what God does for David when he cried out to his Lord while patiently waiting for him:
- God lifted David out of a pit of life! When you are in a slimy pit, you cannot make it out under your own power. The sooner you understand this and turn to God, the better off you will be.
- God set David’s feet on rock and gave him a firm place to stand. God not only rescues us from the morass, but provides us with stability to work through whatever troubles we must face.
- God put a new song in David’s heart and on his lips. Never forget that when we are saved, stabilized, and strong, that God will give us a song or story to sing out to the world of what God has done for us. Never let an opportunity for praise pass you by!
- God made David an example of his love and mercy for the world to see and to praise God. Always remember when God blesses us, immediately praise God and speak well of him who does so much for us.
God loves each one of us so much more that anyone, including ourselves, will ever grasp. But to benefit from God’s generosity and love, we must turn to God and trust him to act on our behalf. When God delivers us, then we must publicly honor him before men and glorify his name. Never be ashamed of asking, receiving, or acknowledging God’s grace and mercy before men. The goal of all Christians is to do the will of God, and this can only be achieved in our lives if his word is within our heart (Psalm 40:8). Please stay in the word, and in prayer, and in fellowship, because these are the key enablers for patient waiting, which always results in powerful blessings!
LORD, HELP ME TO TRUST ONLY YOU IN TOUGH TIMES, AND UPON MY DELIVERANCE I WILL NOT FORGET YOU, BUT I WILL PROCLAIM YOUR NAME, AND SING A NEW SONG OF PRAISE AS TO HOW GOD HAS DELIVERED ME FROM THE SLIMY PIT OF THIS WORLD. AMEN!
Article source Mike White @ Summit church of Christ
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