Solid Ground

"I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me up out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet upon 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 the Lord and put their trust in him." Psalm 40:1-3

On a mission trip to the coast of Panama, I found an unexpected physical, mental, emotional and spiritual challenger.  Mud.  The ground upon which we were building homes and a school was saturated with rain.  After the first day of hauling lumber and supplies over the construction site, we had turned the ground into a deep, thick, and slimy mess.  Each step, day after day, was a fierce fight to keep possession of our boots. When the week came to an end, we left our boots, loaded up the boats, and headed for solid ground.  The first step on dry ground was like a sweet reunion with a dear friend.  The joy of rediscovery was indescribable.

I doubt David had been to Panama, but he knew slimy pits.  Mud and mire were no strangers to him.  Neither was crying out to God for help. He discovered the cry led to the rescue.  The patient waiting resulted in the strong arm of salvation.  Jesus told us sinking ground was going to be a part of our experience.  "Troubles of many kinds", he said.  And, like David, he reminds us there has never been, nor will there ever be any pit, not even death itself, that can deny his ultimate victory.

If not today, we will soon find ourselves wallowing around in some slimy pit.  It may be one we leaped into, one someone dragged us into or simply the reality of living in a world that has chosen to orient itself against God.  Regardless, rescue is available.  Solid ground and a new song are waiting for any who would humbly cry, "Help!"  The fact of the matter is God loves you.  He always has and always will.  He's made you for solid ground not slimy pits.  It's time to make that call.

Grace and Peace,

Tom

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