Out Of A Miry Pit

A miry pit is slimy and full of mud. Once you slide or fall into such a pit there is no traction to pull yourself out. It's like quick sand that pulls you under because the more you struggle the deeper you sink. I remember helping a pastor during the early stages of building a church. The area the foundation was laid was very muddy. My feet sunk deep into the inky, black soil until I was nearly knee deep. I had to have my brother help pull me out without burying my boots.

How quickly we find ourselves sinking deep in sin. We are quickly deceived to think that just a small sip or a short puff or quick hit is something we can manage. But it's never enough, is it? Before we know it we are are ankle deep then knee deep and soon enough we find ourselves up to our neck in crude, filthy mud. Ask the gambler who is still hoping to strike it big. The sex or drug addicted that promises themselves just one more time then they will stop and come clean.

It doesn't need to be sin that we find ourselves in a pit. Think of Daniel who found himself thrown into a lion's den because he refused to stop praying. Some may suffer from depression following a long illness. Others may have lost their job or a their marriage came to an end. Others are frustrated at the way their lives turned out. Hope seems diminished and dying seems better than just trying to get through another day. The ground suddenly opens from underneath their feet and a sink hole swallows them.

The Scriptures give us this hope from a man who had seen a few miry pits in his day. David writes in Psalms 40:2, "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." (KJV).

Beloved, no matter how deep the pit you find yourselves, God desires to rescue you. To set your feet on a solid rock. Christ is that Rock. Not only will He help you out of the pit, but will help you walk away from it so you never have to find yourselves falling headlong into it.

Listen my friends the mud of the miry pit is that of regret. Once God delivers you, stay clear of regret even if consequences should follow the sins you committed that are now under His blood. His grace will help you. God's power will sustain you to walk toward Him and away from sink holes, pits and potholes. Remember His promise, "Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path." (Psalms 119:105, NIV).

In closing, I'm reminded of the 1st stanza and chorus of Love Lifted Me by James Rowe published in 1912.

I was sinking deep in sin, far from the peaceful shore,
Very deeply stained within, sinking to rise no more;
But the Master of the sea heard my despairing cry,
From the waters lifted me, now safe am I.

Refrain:
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me.
Love lifted me! Love lifted me!
When nothing else could help,
Love lifted me.