Psalm 40:1-2 – 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. (NIV)

Psalm 40:1-2 – I waited patiently for God to help me; then he listened and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out from the bog and the mire, and set my feet on a hard, firm path, and steadied me as I walked along. (TLB)

Psalm 40:1-2 – I waited patiently for the Lord's help; then he listened to me and heard my cry. He pulled me out of a dangerous pit, out of the deadly quicksand. He set me safely on a rock and made me secure. (GNT)

For the past several summers, my husband and I and another couple have been attending mud volleyball tournaments to show our support for the youth and the counsellors at the summer church camp that we attend.

Mud volleyball is played in a sea of mud. The participants literally get covered from head to toe in mud. When they are playing, they slip and slide all over the place. When the game is finished, they come out of the mud and mire and wander over to a small river where they get washed off and come out completely clean again. This happens several times during the course of the day as they play different teams.

As one who suffers from depression, especially in the winter months, I can really relate to today's Scripture. There are many days when I feel as if I were in a dangerous pit of deadly quicksand, mud, and mire. When I cry out to God in my times of despair, He always listens and hears my cry. Always, our faithful God will lift me out of my slimy pit of despair, wash off the mud and the mire, set my feet on firm ground, and steady me as I walk along.

There is a praise song which really says it all:

Jesus, lover of my soul
Jesus, I will never let You go
You've taken me from the miry clay
You've set my feet upon the rock

And now I know
I love You, I need You
Though my world may fall
I'll never let You go
My Savior, my closest Friend
I will worship You until the very end
       – Daniel Grul, John Ezzy, Steve McPherson

Whatever is troubling you today, will you call on Him and wait patiently for the Lord to hear your cry and lift you out of your pit of despair?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we thank You so much for Jesus, our Saviour and our Friend. We thank You, Jesus, that You love us. We love You. We need You. We will never let You go. May we worship You until the very end and throughout eternity. In Your precious name, we pray. Amen.

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About the author:

Dee Renaud <dee.renaud@outlook.com>
Sauble Beach, Ontario, Canada
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