I know what the pit looks like. I’ve been fired by a former church employer, been in and out of the hospital for various serious reasons, and seen my share of challenges that seemed insurmountable. While I was going through the trials, I couldn’t help but wonder when they would be over... Ever felt that way? Ever wonder if you’d ever see the light again? Ever been in a hole so deep that you just felt like you were doomed to stay there? You aren’t the only one in that pit... but it sure feels like it. Foreclosure... divorce... bullying... failure... illness... pride... shame...
I don’t know what shape your pit is... but I completely understand the feeling of being in one.
More importantly... so does Jesus. The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords knows what the bottom of the pit feels like. The smoothness of the walls... unable to be climbed. The dark so thick that your eyes feel closed even when wide open. And the bottom of the pit? Thick and filled with hopeless sludge... guaranteed to grab your feet and slow you down if you have any ideas about trying to climb out. One step forward... 3 steps back. Felt that?
Death is a pit.... and Jesus experienced it for a brief time over 2000 years ago. The enemy did everything he could to keep Christ in that deep darkness forever. But Jesus knew His stay was short. He had a mission and there was nothing that would keep Him away from rolling back that stone and flooding the pit of death with the light from the sun His Father put there. Jesus would overcome death’s perfect record and emerge victorious.
It’s because of Christ’s escape from His pit that we have hope.
And hope is a powerful thing.
In his book Think on These Things, author and former-Pastor John Maxwell says this about hope:
Hope shines brightest when the hour is darkest.
Hope motivates when discouragement comes.
Hope energizes when the body is tired.
Hope sweetens while bitterness bites.
Hope sings when all melodies are gone.
Hope believes when evidence is eliminated.
Hope listens for answers when no one is talking.
Hope climbs over obstacles when no one is helping.
Hope endures hardship when no on is caring.
Hope smiles confidently when no one is laughing.
Hope reaches for answers when no one is asking.
Hope presses toward victory when no one is encouraging.
Hope dares to give when no one is sharing.
Hope brings the victory when no one is winning.
Hope is powerful. And maybe you’ve been looking for it for a long time. Day after day you’ve searched above your head for light... even a pinhole of light that simply hasn’t come. You’ve struggled at the bottom of your pit... but I’ve got great news... Jesus has a VERY long arm. Today He’s reaching for you and wants to pull you out... to step into a new light for the first time in a long time. Jesus is hope.
Romans 8:24-25 “For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.”
You may not see Jesus today... but rest assured, He’s there. I know it’s hard to see that beautiful arm in the blackness of the pit... but it’s there. Ready to pull you up to the light. Never give up that hope. Christ hears you calling out in the darkness... and I don’t know what lesson you’ll need to learn in the trial that you are enduring... but cling to the hope and promise that His resurrection was powerful enough to get you through it.
He’s reaching for you.
And when you finally feel that nail-pierced hand... grab onto it tightly and allow Him to rescue you. Give your life to Him... read His word... serve in His church... grow by being more like Him. Never give up hope in the One who promises to always be there. Hope reminds you that things will get better. But you know the greatest thing about hope? It changes. Jesus never changes... but the hope that got us out of that first pit... becomes faith. We don’t just hope we’ll be rescued... we begin to know and have faith it will happen if we ever slip in again.
Hebrews 11:1 “Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.”
Hope keeps you going... It keeps you from not giving up looking for light in the bottom of the pit...
Faith reminds you that you aren’t alone down there.. and won’t stay there for long.
Never give up hope...
live a life of faith...
And when you are pulled out of that hole (and you will be).... give the credit to God who sent the rescue team of One.
