Tuesday, August 3, 2010

God Lifts Us Up

"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."

-- Psalm 40:1-2

I keep hearing the chorus of a song echoing through my head. "We all fall down. We all need saving. Once in a while. You are not alone." I have no idea who wrote the song or who sings it. I just know that the truth of those words remind me that everyone has peaks and valleys in their life. And we all need God to help us on our journey and, at some point, fix our brokenness.

The scripture above figures predominately in a book by Beth Moore, titled "Get Out of That Pit." Some days I picture God physically lifting me up and setting me up on His rock so that the stormy waves that surround me can't destroy me. Know what I mean?

Some pits we end up in all by ourselves. We dug the hole, climbed on down, then looked around and realized where we were. The climb out is difficult but, with God's help, anything is possible.

Other pits come from the decisions others make that impact on us. I doubt anyone ever expects to become a single, working parent after a cheating spouse runs off. And I doubt someone with a steady, secure job expects the company to go under in a time of double-digit unemployment.

Beth goes over all types of ways to get into a pit. She also gives ways to get out. That's the key. Getting out. Believing yourself worthy enough to find your way into God's loving arms and let Him lift you up on that rock.

It's not an easy journey. The slope is slippery. Satan and his minions are everywhere, trying to lure you back into the pit. Back to failure. Back to disgrace. Back to unhappiness. Back to being overwhelmed by life and your circumstances.

But God can make our steps sure and steady. He can lift us up and give us a firm place to stand. And He will. All we have to do is cry out to Him, reach up to Him, hold on to Him. God promises to save us no matter where we are and God always keeps His promises.