Fear Not! A Journey From Fear To FreedomНамуна

Are You in the Pit?

“I called on Your name, O Lord, from the lowest pit. You have heard my voice: ‘Do not hide Your ear from my sighing, from my cry for help.’ You drew near on the day I called on You, and said, ‘do not fear!’” (Lam. 3:55–57). 

Most biblical scholars believe Lamentations was written by the prophet Jeremiah. The book contains five poems of lamenting over the destruction of Jerusalem, of which Jeremiah witnessed firsthand. Jeremiah could certainly relate to being in a pit. “They lowered Jeremiah by ropes into the cistern; it had no water in it, only mud, and Jeremiah sank down into the mud” (Jer. 38:6, NIV). 

What was Jeremiah’s crime? He was telling the people what God told him to say: speaking of the impending demise of Jerusalem at the hands of the Babylonians. Joseph too was thrown into a cistern by his jealous brothers, and his crime was sharing the dream God had given him. Both of these men were obedient to God, yet each of them ended up in the pit. 

At some point in your life, you too will find yourself in the pit, sinking down in the muck and mire and wondering if there is any way out. Perhaps you are there today. When you find yourself in the pit, the first thing to do is to call upon the name of the Lord. God tells us, “It shall come to pass that before they call, I will answer; and while they are still speaking, I will hear” (Isa. 65:24). 

In Jeremiah’s case, the king sent thirty men to pull him out. I can tell you with all certainty that the King of kings wants to help lift you out of your pit. He will draw near to you the day you call out to Him, and He will tell you: “Do not fear.” 

David said, “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” (Ps. 40:1–2, NIV). If you are in the pit now, cry out to the Lord and then look up. You’ll recognize Jesus; He will be the One with His arms stretched out towards you waiting to lift you out and get you on firm ground. 

Prayer: Lord, pull me out of the pit and set my feet on solid ground. I need You because I cannot get out on my own. Thank You for not being afraid to get Your hands dirty because I am a mess, but I realize You specialize in cleaning up dirty people. In Jesus name, amen.