“I waited patiently for the Lord; and he inclined unto me, and heard my cry. 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.”‍

In Psalm 40, David found himself in a metaphorical pit of sin, discouragement, shame, or despair. When he realized that his own actions led him there, it was easy to feel overwhelmed, hopeless and lost. Despite his desire to please God, David was struggling to do so. The pit was described as an abandoned well, a deep hole with miry clay.

Feeling stuck in the same place can be frustrating, like sinking into mud and being unable to move forward. It makes you vulnerable to attacks without a way to see ahead. When in this helpless state, what can you do? David’s cries to God encourage us to go to God in our weaknesses and wait for Him to rescue us. We can find strength in God, who wants to lift us out of the deepest pits and establish our paths.

Trust in God’s love, grace, and power to save you from your dark place and give you a firm place to stand. You can hold on to the confident assurance that He will never leave or forsake you, no matter what you may face.

Dear God, sometimes I feel as if I’m stuck in a deep, dark pit, sinking in the mud. But I choose to trust and look to You, Lord Jesus, to rescue me. I believe You hear my prayer and will work all my struggles for good—whether You change my circumstances or just my perspective. I know that my deliverance is coming. Thank You, Jesus. Amen.