“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.”
Psalm 40:2
When he’s feeling blue, my friend Joe always says he’s in the “pity pit.” He gets discouraged about his Christian walk, about his unsaved family members, or about our country’s descent into immorality.
I’m familiar with the “pity pit,” too. Anytime I take my eyes off the Lord, I tend to slip into despair. Have you ever seen the luge event in the Winter Olympics? A team of daredevils on a flimsy toboggan plunges down a narrow, icy track at breakneck speeds. That’s how fast I can descend into doom and gloom! And no matter how hard I try to lift myself up by my “bootstraps,” it never works. I remind myself that I live in a great country, that my health is good, that I have food on the table, and so on. Yet still I’m stuck in self-pity until I humble myself and confess my sin.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up” (James 4:10). Once we confess our sin, God lifts us up and gives us a firm place to stand. It’s His strong arms pulling us up and His deep love putting a song of praise in our mouths.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jane C. Sveska
Jane Sveska is a retired librarian with an especially keen interest in reading missionary biographies (a favorite is the Amy Carmichael story, A Chance to Die). She volunteers in the libraries of both her church and her community, and lives in South Lyon, Michigan, outside of Detroit. Jane has found herself ever-thankful each day for the miracle of surviving cancer, the beauty in gardening and nature, and the joy of spending time with her grown children and four precious grandchildren.
I’m familiar with the “pity pit,” too. Anytime I take my eyes off the Lord, I tend to slip into despair. Have you ever seen the luge event in the Winter Olympics? A team of daredevils on a flimsy toboggan plunges down a narrow, icy track at breakneck speeds. That’s how fast I can descend into doom and gloom! And no matter how hard I try to lift myself up by my “bootstraps,” it never works. I remind myself that I live in a great country, that my health is good, that I have food on the table, and so on. Yet still I’m stuck in self-pity until I humble myself and confess my sin.
“Humble yourselves before the Lord and He will lift you up” (James 4:10). Once we confess our sin, God lifts us up and gives us a firm place to stand. It’s His strong arms pulling us up and His deep love putting a song of praise in our mouths.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Jane C. Sveska
Jane Sveska is a retired librarian with an especially keen interest in reading missionary biographies (a favorite is the Amy Carmichael story, A Chance to Die). She volunteers in the libraries of both her church and her community, and lives in South Lyon, Michigan, outside of Detroit. Jane has found herself ever-thankful each day for the miracle of surviving cancer, the beauty in gardening and nature, and the joy of spending time with her grown children and four precious grandchildren.
Scripture Focus
Psalm 40:1-3
Insight
If you’re in the “slimy pit” of self-pity, confess your sin. Turn your eyes upon Jesus. He will lift you up!
Bible In A Year
- Genesis 1-2
- Psalm 1
- Matthew 1-2
