My husband and I are truly enjoying some green pastures right now. Hallelujah and thank you Lord Jesus. After a very difficult couple of years filled with grief, sorrow, lamenting, questioning, wandering, wondering, worrying, wrestling, the Lord has once again…

…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 40:3

I don’t think the NIV choice of “slimy” does the original language justice.

שָׁאוֹן֮ (šā·’ō·wn) – a roar (of waters), crash, uproar

We all understand this. The pit is silent and lonely, yet at the same time there’s a deafening roar in it, accosting the soul and causing more fear and chaos.

The pit is full of mud and mire and unsure-ness of step and safety. It taunts us to believe that there’s no hope, this new position will last until we go home to the Lord’s heart, and the only thing left for us is slippery sliding, downward movement, and increasing darkness.

Have you ever seen a video of a person or animal stuck in a muddy pit? The clawing clamoring pulling running only makes it worse. More slippery. More messy.

The only way out of the pit is to wait for the lifting.

And I’ve been through the dark pits enough times now, that I recognize the way the Lord always get us out is by the cross. That cross is lowered right into the pit with us. It’s bigger than any pit there has been or ever will be on earth… and when we have eyes to see it that it is right there with us, we remember again, “YES this is our Rescue!” That sacred cross.

When the Spirit reveals it to us, we remember all the Savior went through for us. The torture, shame, darkness, pain… because of His great love. His love and grace flood into our fearful souls as we dwell in HIM and who He is and we remember we are safe in this love. We may let out a good wail because we forgot to remember, but then we rest again and we cling to that cross knowing that’s how He will carry us out.

There is no pit we are in that He will not eventually get us out of. The wait is often longer than we want. But the quicker we can cling to that cross, the less damage we will do in fearful panic.

When we doubt His loving care and can’t see His sovereign hand… we cling to that cross where His loving heart was revealed once for all time.

We must have faith to believe that clinging to that cross, abiding in His love, will help us experience His joy no matter where we are, and the joy of the Lord will be our strength. (John 15)

And when we have Crossed out of the Pit…

…”He will put a new song in (our) mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him.” Psalm 40:3

Firm steady rock will be under our feet again and the roaring will be transformed to a sweet new song of praise that many will hear.

Thank you Lord Jesus that your love is greater than any darkness or danger anywhere on earth. Help me not forget to remember. Help me be quick to run to the cross when I am doubting. Help me have faith to believe that you will help me cross out of every pit.