Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Pit of Perfection

I have not blogged in awhile…not because I didn’t want to but I had a fall. I fell into a pit. Perhaps you will understand for you have fallen into pits like this before, too. These pits sneak up on us. One day we are walking around, things are fine, and then there is a hole and we fall in. My particular pit was a familiar one and a dangerous one. It was a pit of “I am not good enough…” Perhaps you have had that kind of fall, too, for like the potholes in Jackson, these pits are everywhere--especially on the streets we travel most. May I suggest this is satan’s biggest weapon for “pits” tend to render us useless.

I need not go into the details of what caused my fall, but it took longer to get myself out this time. Feelings of inadequacy grew from thinking I wasn’t a good teacher to I am not a good person. “Who would ever want to be around me?” became my constant thought. This pit was not a good place to be, let me tell you!! I was not really depressed, just paralyzed in doing what I knew I needed to do. I was trapped…in bondage with chains I had put on myself.

Now, why would I share this with you? After all, I am supposed to encourage and tell you about Christ’s victorious life, aren’t I? That is exactly why I am telling you this…you see I am no longer in that pit and I want you to know how I escaped just in case you are in a similar pit right now.

While I was being all “pit-a-full” I refused to go to Christ for help. Sound familiar? satan had convinced me that God would never want to use me anymore because I was so worthless. This was the trap satan has always used… I can’t believe I fell for this lie again. I thought I knew better! I did not eat of the Word of God and soon found myself starving and willing to eat the lies of the deceiver. Dangerous place! This could have been where the story ends…BUT GOD.

When God can’t reach us the easy ways, He tries creative ways to get to us. My granddaughter, who is 10, quoted her “favorite” scripture to me…Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me!” She was merely trying to impress me with her memorization, but God wanted to remind me of some very important things:

• I wasn’t good…but God is great…and God is good and He loves me with an ever-lasting love. My only goodness is from Him. Jesus even said to the people to whom he preached, “Why do you call me good…there is no one good except my Father who is in Heaven.” My significance both here and beyond, is in Him…what a wonderful place to be.
• Nothing I do makes Him love me any more or any less. I can do nothing that would cause Christ’s love to be taken away from me. His grace is sufficient for my every need but also for my every failing. It is a gift and not just at salvation but throughout my life.
• He has called me (and you) for a purpose while we are on this earth. It was upon this point that I really needed to dwell. I knew he called me but I had been coasting for a while, doing this “call” on my own…in my own wisdom. (insert hysterical laughter here!) What I had forgotten was what my granddaughter reminded me…it is Christ doing it…not me! If I am to do this thing right, I must immerse myself in His word and depend on His strength. When I do that, the situations and feeling really do change!
• I don’t need to dwell in the pit! There is an escape…and Christ’s strength is the only way.

So, what has changed? Did the situation change? Nope! What caused the fall is still stalking me. What changed was my focus. I chose to look to Christ instead of my circumstances. I used that word “chose” because it is a choice. You, dear one, can choose to stay in the pit…you can even put up curtains with a recliner…but there will be no light and no rest…for it is a pit, and a pit is dark and uncomfortable.

I am back with a vengeance to help others escape despair. Honestly, I had forgotten what it was like to be down, but now I remember…I know how some of you are feeling…I know how hard life can be…but I also know who God is and I know His Word says, “But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” Is. 40:31 I have never seen an eagle in a pit!! Praise His Name!!!