There seems to be a peacefulness in the midst of the chaos this week. A reassurance that God is in control. It may be a good day to pull yourself up and out of the murky pit that you have been hiding in.

Scripture today is found in Psalm 88:6-12:

You plunged me into the bottom of the pit, into dark places, into the depths.
Your wrath lies heavily on me; your waves crashing over me keep me down. (Selah)
You separated me from my close friends, made me repulsive to them;
I am caged in, with no escape; my eyes grow dim from suffering.

I call on you, Adonai, every day; I spread out my hands to you.
Will you perform wonders for the dead? Can the ghosts of the dead rise up and praise you? (Selah)
Will your grace be declared in the grave, or your faithfulness in Abaddon?
Will your wonders be known in the dark, or your righteousness in the land of oblivion? (CJB)

When we get caught up in the meaning of words, sometimes we may find that we dug too deep and become frustrated. These words today can be hard to understand. Gloom does that to us at times.

My focus today is upon the words: “bottom of the pit. It is the lowest pit – you cannot go any further. We get caught up in the chaos and it becomes a struggle to try and pull ourselves up.

The Hebrew word for “pit” is bowr (bore); references in OT:953 of Strong’s Accordance. It means a pit hole – like a cistern or prison or dungeon. It becomes murky – darkness surrounding you – you may find yourself at your lowest – hopeless.

How do we get so low? We take our focus off of God.

When it speaks of the dead the reference is made to the wicked – to the evil. The wicked are called dead even in their lifetime. I am thinking that is what we are feeling – that chaos that corruption – that chaotic atmosphere of confusion.

This is why we need God. We need to know that He sees us – that He hears us in our lowest moments. Take these words today and don’t allow yourself to stay in that dark murkiness, but allow God to pull you up and out of that pit.

I share another Scripture with you today – one of my go-to’s:

Psalm 40:1-3: “I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.
He 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.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. (NIV)

This my dear friends is what our focus needs to be upon. Be willing to take his hand when he reaches down to pull you up and out of that slimy pit. That is our salvation. That is our removal from exile.

Heavenly Father, Oh that gloom that surrounds us; the dark and miry pits that we find ourselves in – oh how we need you. Father, you are our Salvation – our Hope – our Peace in the midst of the darkness that surrounds us. Come and lift us up today and set our feet upon a rock, a firm place to stand. And then may we shout out that new song of praise and many will then see and fear and put their trust in the Lord. I love you, Lord. I ask this in Christ Jesus’ name, Amen.