Up From the Pit

Deep in the dark trenches of post-partum anxiety, I could see very little light from the bottom of that pit. Though I had been a Christ follower for about four years, I was still very immature in my faith and lacked most of the fruit of the spirit... especially self-control or self-discipline. My Bible was at arms reach for most of my waking hours... but I felt I could not touch it, let alone open it and read God's promises of hope and redemption.

It was a very difficult handful of months for all of us. I wonder if it was most difficult for my Heavenly Father who was watching his beloved daughter in such despair. God is faithful and just and ever-present. He never left me... though I, very nearly, left Him. I was, at times, so angry at Him that I remember being on my knees sobbing and screaming at God for leaving me in this dark wasteland of uselessness. I wanted out. I wanted to die. I thought He was no longer present... had forgotten about me. My clouded view didn't allow me to see how very near He really was.

After His work was accomplished by allowing this heavy trial to sift through His loving, disciplining, parental hands, I was healed. My life had changed dramatically with much simplification after I realized my sin of extreme self-centeredness, lack of self-discipline and faith and trust in God. My perspective on life and hope and God's sovereignty took on a whole new illumination. My light did not come from within my power but from God alone... from Jesus redemptive power. "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." (John 8:12) God needed to get me where He intended for me to do His work and to teach me a few lessons along the way. "In his heart a man plans his course, but the Lord determines his steps." Proverbs 16:9

Many times God accomplishes His greatest works through His lowly ones in very low places. Let's look at the life of one of these well known Old Testament characters who was literally in the pit of despair. Remember Jonah?... yeah, the guy in the belly of the big fish? I have to admit that my pit (in the comfort of my rocking chair in my living room) was miles away from the ugly that Jonah had to endure. Praise You, Lord.. Thank You, Jesus!!!

I am going to share with you several verses that surround our verse of thanks for today. These verses come from Jonah's famous prayer from the belly of the fish. (If you have a Bible, please take the extra time  and read all of Jonah chapter 2... or better yet, read the entire book of Jonah... it's only 4 chapters - less than 2 pages in most Bibles).

"To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you brought my life up from the pit, O Lord my God. When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, Lord,  and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. 'Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs. But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. Salvation comes from the Lord.' And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land." Jonah 2:6-10

God had sent His prophet, Jonah, on a mission to warn the city of Nineveh to change their evil ways and turn back to the Lord. Jonah tried to run from his duties and hide from God. Silly, silly Jonah. We can't hide from God no matter how hard we try. Just can't do it. God got Jonah's attention alright... nearly took his life in the raging sea. But then, here's the critical turning point (from the above text in verse 7), "I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you".

Seems so simple doesn't it? "I remembered You." Honestly, that's all it takes in many cases... look up and remember that God is our Hope, our Savior, our Redeemer, our Protector, our Provider, our Healer, our Friend... and ask for His love and forgiveness. If we confess our unrighteous acts and name our sins He opens His everlasting arms and brings us up out of our pit. Simple? No. Not at all. The plan is simple. God makes it so simple that even a child can grasp the concept. That's how loving He is. But sin, and strong wills, and self-sufficiency get in the way and we get so stuck in the muck at the bottom.

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar and his word has no place in our lives." 1 John 1:8-10

I am forever changed, forever grateful, forever forgiven by God's everlasting arms that lifted me from the pit of my despair. That life trial showed me more than I could ever learn in any other way. My Heavenly Father knows me better than I know myself. He sent His only Son, Jesus, to redeem me from ALL my SINS past, present and future. For that I am thankful!

"The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms." Deuteronomy 33:27a

"And be thankful." Colossians 3:15b