Are you in a pit of despair right now?
Feeling like there is nothing life has to offer you?
Believing that you’ll never feel normal again?
Thinking you’re only sinking deeper and deeper?
Do you feel like no one cares?
No one notices you?
There’s nothing worth living for?
David knew that feeling. He wrote the words of today’s focus verse. I lived in that pit for a lot of years. It’s not a good place to try to live. You’re not alone.
Let’s think about what David wrote.
He’s down. Deep. Likely in a pit designed to capture something. Well, it captured something…David!
Depression and anxiety do that. They capture you and hold you, preventing you from rising up to the levels at which you can breathe again.
David knew he had been anointed to be king over Israel, but here he was, being chased relentlessly by the current king, fearing for his life, trying to avoid death at every turn. Fear, anxiety, despair, feeling used, abused, and worthless were his every day.
Then we see that the Lord heard David’s cry. That means David was crying out to the Lord. Even in his darkest despair. Even from a place of hopelessness, David cried out to God. Can you just hear that raspy voice, “Lord, help me!”?
Are you doing that in your dark pit? Crying out to God?
Look what happens when we do! God turned to David. It’s like when we’ve got our hands full but our child cries out for help – we turn toward them. We love them, so we turn. We give our attention to them. This is a picture of our God.
God, the Creator of heaven and earth. God, the Ruler of the Universe. God, the Provider of all things good. God, the Healer. God.
When we cry out for His help, he hears our voice and turns. He stops His other activity and turns to give His attention to us.
(No, I do not understand how He can do that for all mankind all at once. I can’t do it for two people, but He is God and I am not. It’s okay that I don’t understand. I will trust.)
Here it is, Believer: Almighty God loves you enough to die for you, and beyond that, He cares about your heart. He not only hears your cries for help, He listens and turns toward you to give full attention to you and to comfort you as He brings about good for you and glory for Him.
I see you in that pit, wondering if today is the day you can exit – but you’re only seeing death.
God sees life. He sees that time coming when He lifts you up out of that mucky mire and sets your feet on solid rock. And He won’t leave you alone, all wobbly and weak. He will keep that supporting arm around you as you take those steps toward His will for you.
Cry out to Him, Beloved! Surrender. Keep crying out for His help! Surrender. Lie down and rest there. Surrender. This won’t overcome you. Trust. Wait patiently. He’s coming. Trust. He is listening and paying attention. Trust. You’re about to be lifted up. Trust.
While you’re considering this being lifted out of the pit, read verse 3. There’s so much hope when we wait patiently for the Lord!
Coffee, Bible, Journal.
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