EVERYONE has them! What Mama said we’d have. Days like these! The kind that makes us not want to participate or play nicely with others. Here lately, just the mere thought of participating makes me wish that I could plop down in my recliner, remote in hand, and binge watch Denzel Washington movies.
We tend to use phrases to somewhat describe what we’re going through, such as “Down in the dumps”, “A little off”, or “Feeling blue”.
Trapped
My husband and I were watching a “survival” show recently, in which a couple was out for a beautiful yet lengthy hike. About 2 hours in, they had to make a choice-walk the long way around or wade across what appeared to be shallow water. They chose what looked the most simple.
The guy went cautiously, but about knee deep he found himself stuck. Bogged down in the muck and mire, slowly sinking. The more he fought to get out the more immobile his legs became, as if he were in cement. Turned out, he’d waded into a type of quicksand. He. Was. Trapped.
The ONLY way out for this poor man was to be rescued. He could not do this on his own. His girlfriend franticly tried to find sticks long enough for him to grip, while she stood on shore, pulling with all of her might, but to no avail. He was STILL helpless. Could she run the 2 hours back to find help before nightfall (places like this never have cell service) or tragically worse, before he sank down further until he was covered?
Enter the “expert survivalist” who proceeded to explain and demonstrate how to remain calm in situations like these. Of course, he wasn’t there at the time, he just provides the advice of what and what not to do the NEXT time you find yourself in a life threatening situation.
All the frightened girlfriend would have had to do was #1- Chop down small trees, #2-Gather vines to use as ropes, #3-Tie the sticks together to form a chair, and last but not least, #4-Hoist the chair out to her boyfriend so he could support his weight while she made the trek back. Easy-Peasy, Right??
When Your Days Run Into Seasons
Ok, besides the idiotic advice about the chair, (Believe me, I’ve watched a couple other episodes just to see if this guy is THAT out of touch with reality. He is! Guess he watched too many episodes of McGuyer as a kid.) We anxiously awaited to see if the girlfriend could run gazelle-like fast and bring back the help that would save her loved one’s life.
This started me thinking about how this situation had some similarities of my recent days. One day of sadness that leads to another day to another until you find yourself in a whole lot of overwhelming days wishing someone would build me a chair to lean on. Or better yet, go run for help.
In reality, there is no cute way to put it that makes this feeling seem lighthearted. David referred to his “location” in Psalms 40, depending on the translation you read, as Pit of despair, bog, mire, mud, slimy pit, miry clay, horrible pit, pit of destruction, desolate pit, muddy clay, pit of misery, lonely pit, dangerous pit, and deadly quicksand.
I love how David poured his heart out to God, not sugarcoating any of his raw and emotional feelings. In Psalms 69 he felt overwhelmed by the deep water and floods, telling God, “Hey they’re up to my neck here!!” He was exhausted, his throat hurt and his eyes were swollen from crying, while he waited on God’s help. In verse 29 of the NLT he says, “I am suffering and in pain. Rescue me, Oh God, by Your saving Power.”
Doesn’t David sound like a grieving parent? He was. How many times are our eyes swollen from what seems like endless tears? How many times do we feel anything but patient while waiting for help, as in Psalms 69:17, where he says, “Don’t hide from your servant; Answer me quickly, for I am in deep trouble!”
I’m positive that we all agree with David that the “Pit” is not a fun field trip, and even though we determine to stay far away from it, I find familiarity with every adjective that paints this desperate picture of where we don’t want to be.
There’s Life After Mud
No matter how high the water got or how stuck he was in the mud, David, after crying out his complaints, anger, and frustrations, believed with confidence that God would offer His hand and pull him to safety. He would give God Praise and Thanksgiving even while he was still in the pit because he knew that pretty soon he’d be standing on solid ground. His sore throat would heal as he sang a new song and told others of his Miraculous Rescue from a Merciful God.
I want to know others that have “Days” too. Not to compare how far the water rises, but to be a source of help for each other whenever we feel like we’re going under. To encourage each other in the faith, knowing that Hope is the very definition of even though we can’t see something with our eyes, we BELIEVE and RECEIVE because God says so. To prop each other up so one rough day doesn’t turn into a pattern of many.
My heart for this blog has always been to share the personal ways God has rescued me in overwhelming times of hurt and trouble. Each of you have a painful story. I’m so sorry for your seasons where the flood days seem to outnumber the standing on firm ground days. Have any of you been in a “Pit” lately, crying out to God each day for help, wondering, like David, what could be taking so long?? I sure have!
My Psalms 40
About 3 weeks into this recent sadness, my morning devotion was on Psalms 40. I flipped the tattered coffee-stained pages of my Life Application Study Bible, which I’ve had for 33 years, over to the Psalms. When I saw the note I had written on 11/11/91, It took me back to how God heard my cries so many years ago.
After suffering a miscarriage a few months earlier, I had just found out that I was pregnant again. He picked me up and set my feet on firm ground, keeping me steady along the way whenever fear would try to slip in. He gave me a new song to sing. This precious baby turned out to be Josiah! For 23 years, we got to enjoy him as our miracle after a loss.
And They Lived…..
Ok, I’m happy to tell you that Girlfriend brought help, and they were able to pull Boyfriend from the Quicksand. I suppose they lived happily ever after. Not really sure about forever but it sounds good.
If you are in a deep depression and you have thoughts of hurting yourself, PLEASE, PLEASE seek help. Find a Doctor and see if medication is what you need. Whatever it takes!! Don’t suffer in silence. We all have a common bond. Reach out to the Ladies in Grace Girl’s. I’m sure I speak for all of us when I say that we will help, ANYTIME day or night.
And one last thing…..I’ve heard people make comments about medication being for the ones who maybe didn’t have enough faith to be healed. The best answer I’ve heard on this subject is from Christian Comedienne, Chonda Pierce, who has had her own battle with deep depression. A Holy someone told her something along the lines of, “Well, If you had enough Faith, you’d be healed.” She said that she looked right back and said, “Well, YOU take off your glasses and drive home!”
My Prayer For You
“Dear Lord, save us! Thank you that we can be just like David and expose every single emotion, be it anger, despair, doubt, or exhaustion to You and Your Heart doesn’t feel anything but Love and Mercy toward us. Help us have a new type of Patience where we Praise You in the Pit because we know we’ll be walking out soon! Thank you for your Wonderous Personal Works. In the Holy Name of Jesus! Amen”