Stuck

Rainy Days

Lately we have had a considerable amount of rain. Of course, it is spring, but this year is exceptional. It has remained unseasonably cool and rather wet, at least in the beautiful hills of Searcy county. I must say I love the cool weather and I am dreading those miserable dog days of summer. However, rainy days on top of rainy days can have all kinds of effects on life and people. The ground becomes soft and saturated leading to a muddy mess. Any mom who has had to deal with the aftermath of the muddy ball field or rodeo arena can attest to the nasty nature of which I speak. It can also have other physical effects. If you have a lingering injury or old surgery then you probably have some pain or discomfort that accompanies these kinds of days. 

But along with all of these things we can also be affected emotionally and spiritually. These long dreary days can cause imbalances in our hormone levels and quite literally put a damper (pun intended) on our mood. We begin to feel sluggish, tired, and even depressed! This can extend into our spiritual life as well. We can begin to feel overwhelmed and begin to forget the principles of truth and the genuine promises not found in our hearts or circumstances but in the rock solid testimony of God in the Scriptures!  

These kinds of soggy conditions cause many tractors and trucks to whine, stuck in a field or down an old muddy road. And in much the same way, we can get stuck in patterns of thought and procrastination that keeps us from the hope found only in fellowship with God in His Word and in prayer.

The Pits

We often refer to being in the pits when we are talking about these low points emotionally or spiritually. So what should we do if we find ourselves in the miry, boggy pit? Well the word of God speaks to this very thing. First of all, we must wait patiently in prayer for the Lord (Psalm 40:1). Notice, this is not time to be inactive. We must wait on God while persistently pleading and crying out to God. You probably do not feel like praying, but when you do not feel like praying is when you most need to pray! You must pray with the understanding that waiting in prayer means that transformation of your circumstances or feelings may not come quickly but will come surely in accord with God’s providential purposes.

Secondly, you must trust in God’s sure and sovereign rescue (Psalm 40).  You cannot pull yourself out of the miry bog. You must hang on to the sure hope that the Lord will not only pull you out of that place but establish you on the solid rock of truth found in His word about the ROCK who is Jesus Christ our Lord. Jesus is the cornerstone on which is built His church and by extension every genuine Christian (1 Peter 2:4-10).

Finally, we must look forward in praise to God for how He will use the testimony of His faithfulness to us in our time of distress to His glory and the expansion of His kingdom (Psalm 40:3). Your misery is not meaningless! God is working in your affliction and trials something that will bring Him greater glory, you greater stability in faith, and others a greater testimony to God’s goodness and grace!

He Is Able!

So brother or sister, are feeling stuck? He can rescue you out of the ditch! Are you feeling paralyzed? He can heal you and make you well (Matthew 9:1-8).  Are you feeling defeated? He can give you victory (1 Corinthians 15:50-58). Are you feeling hopeless? He can give you hope of eternal life (Titus 1:2-3)! Just trust in Jesus!

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