Out of the Slimy Pit ~ by: robin moroney

“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.” Psalm 40:1-2

Before I knew God, every time I heard the saying "God only gives you what He thinks you can handle," I would say to God, “God, just so we’re clear and in case you didn’t get the memo, I can’t handle anything big. I’m a weakling and a chicken.”

And then the worst year of my life happened. It was 2004. My marriage of 21 years was very quickly heading towards divorce and my mother had just been diagnosed with an inoperable, incurable brain tumor. To say that I was at the end of my rope and exhausted would be an understatement. I was completely and totally drained ~ both emotionally and physically. I had no more to give. I was way down deep in the slimy pit. And I saw no way out.

So one day I drove into the garage, shut the door and kept the car running. I just wanted to sleep for ever and ever and never wake up. I begged God to take me Home with Him. Almost immediately God spoke to me. I know it was God’s voice because in my head God would have this huge, booming, deep voice that would have said something like: “ROBIN, GET OUT OF THE CAR!!!! IT’S NOT YOUR TIME!!!!” But the reality is that God’s voice was very quiet and very sweet and He said one word . . . . “Megan” (that’s my daughter).

And I said: “I don’t care. I can’t think about anything else any more. She’ll be fine. She has so many people around her who will love her. She’ll be fine.”

But God said again, “Megan.”

And again I argued with God. Then He placed a picture before me of my daughter standing at the edge of my grave grieving inconsolably. She was completely destroyed.

I couldn’t stand that. It broke my heart. God got to me. So I said to Him “Damn it, God! You do not play fair!!!!” And I shut off the car and went into the house.

I wish I could say that at that moment my life turned great. I’d like to say that my husband showed up at the door and told me that he was stupid for leaving and couldn’t live without me. I’d like to say that my mother got better. But none of those things happened. In fact, my year didn’t get a whole lot better. My mother passed away in March; my marriage ended in April; in June I had to move out of my lovely three bedroom house with a pool into a cramped two bedroom apartment; July, August and September all brought hurricanes to Central Florida; in October I packed everything up and left the only state I had ever known and moved to Atlanta; November & December I spent living with my aunt and uncle in Atlanta and looking for a job.

No, my life did not magically get all rosy and great. Little bunnies and deer did not come out of the forest to sing to me. And little birds did not come and sit on the windowsill or tie a ribbon in my hair. Nope. My life was still pretty much in the toilet.

But what did come to me in the instant that I got out of the car was God and His assurance that He would never, ever let me go. At that moment, I literally saw His hands reach down into my slimy pit and lift me out. I know it was God because I know without a shadow of a doubt that there is no way that I could have ever gotten out of that pit in my own strength. I am weak and I’m a scardy cat. And quite frankly, it was so much easier laying around in that pit. And it would have been so much easier to just sit in my car and go to sleep. But God wouldn’t let me. He was relentless in His love for me.

Did I have a choice in the matter? Yes I did. I could have chosen to ignore God’s hands and His voice and just sit there in my pit and let it close in around me. But God’s voice was so sweet. And His hands were so strong and gentle and loving. So I reached up so He could help me climb out.

And I have not regretted it for one second. I have felt God with me every minute of every day since. He was with me when He opened all the doors for me to move to Atlanta. He was with me when my dog got sick and I thought she was going to die (she didn't). He was with me a few years ago when I had another heartbreak and I stood at the edge of the pit tempted to slide back in. He was right there beside me, taking my hands and pulling me back from the darkness and into His strong and loving arms.

Does God promise us that our lives will be like a Disney cartoon full of happiness and bright sunshine? No, He doesn’t. In fact, Jesus compared following Him to picking up a cross. He said “If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.” Luke 9:23

Is there something in your life that seems so insurmountable that you feel like giving up? Please don’t. Please make the choice to reach up and hold tightly to God’s hands. Please make the choice to allow God to wrap you in His strong, loving arms. He’s there waiting for you to make that choice. I promise you won’t regret it. And God promises that He will give you everything you need to overcome your insurmountable obstacles.

Jesus said: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28 Jesus will be there. And He will help you. And He will make you stronger. And He will lift you out of your slimy pit. And He will set your feet on firm ground again. And again. And again!!!

Remember: “I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.” Philippians 4:13
I pray that when you feel overwhelmed with the heartache and pain in your life and when you feel like giving up, that you will turn just a little, see God’s hands, reach up and allow Him to lift you out of your slimy pit. ~Robin