Have You Ever Been Stuck in Mud?

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I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined unto me and heard my cry.

He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.  Psalm 40:1-2

 

Have you ever been stuck in mud?  It’s an awful feeling.  The more you  push the accelerator, the deeper you sink.  Until finally in desperation, you throw up your hands, quit trying on your own efforts, and call for help.

I’ve been stuck in the mud a few times.  What’s more, I’ve been stuck in some of life’s miry pits a few times as well.  I have a friend who is stuck in a miry pit right now and all of her self-defeating efforts remind me of the long agonizing process I went through getting out of some slimy pits.

My sister, bless her heart, would listen patiently as I tried to figure out all the minutia that led up to the catastrophe—that horrible thing that had happened that never should have happened that was never supposed to happen but it had happened and it happened to ME.  And stuck I was in a horrible pit.  It was as if my emotional and spiritual life got put on hold while I relived the pain in an attempt to unravel the inexplicable.

I’d pray and put it all in God’s hands.  But, I wouldn’t leave it there.  I’d snatch it back and obsess over it more and feel all the pain again—basically, spinning my emotional tires to no avail.  Slipping deeper into the mud.

The worst thing is—we can slip in and out of a pit for years.  Life goes on, but we’re stagnating, even dried up like a spring without water. 

 My sister would say…we’ve already figured that out… you know we’ve already talked about that many times.  And to a point, she helped me so much, as did the counselors and the pastors through the years.  But only to a point.

I, even I, am the LORD; and besides me there is no savior. Isaiah 43:11

Only God could pull me all the way out of the pit and establish my feet on solid ground. 

I cried to thee, O Lord; and unto the LORD I made supplication.  Psalm 30:8

I don’t mean to minimize in any way the profoundly devastating heartbreak that can occur in someone’s life.  I know.  So many tragedies.  It’s humanly impossible to overcome them.  Our help comes from the LORD. 

I’ve reached a point in my life where I trust that everything that happens to us has been filtered through God’s hands, and everything that we experience serves to draw us closer to Him.  He promises to hear us and help us if we cry out to Him.

God’s restorative power is a wonderful thing.  Not only does He give us permission to be happy, He gives us JOY.  He heals the hurt.

It’s good to be able to look back, knowing those pits were there, and feel no pain at all, only contentment, rejoicing in where He has brought me, and looking forward with confidence knowing that He will never leave me nor forsake me.  What a wonderful Savior!

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; to the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent.  O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.  Psalm 30:11-12

New Zealand photo courtesy of Melanie Giovino

If this devotional has touched on your situation, I pray that you will cry out to the LORD and cling to His promises. I pray that He will bring you out of that pit and set your feet on firm ground.  He is your salvation.  All praise and honor to Him forever.

Has a particular verse given you strength and encouragement when you were stuck in the mud?  Please share it with us.

Please consider leaving a comment. I appreciate what you have to say.  Thank you for visiting Write Moments with God.  May God bless you.