The Pits

Hey guys!  Sorry this blog is being posted later than usual! To be honest, I'm totally stressed! (Wow, you can kind of tell that by my over use of exclamation marks! Aaaah! I can't stop! haha!)  Anyway,  I'm not exactly sure what to write to you other than at times like these I realize even more how much I (and you) need God!  "If it were not for the Lord, who is on my side, I wouldn't know where I'd be!" All I can say is my Christian character is definitely being put to the test lately and I feel like I'm just barely holding on... But I suppose, "barely holding on" is still "holding on."

My prayer lately has consisted of "Lord thank you for this life I tend to forget to love lately.  No matter what happens I love you and you are still good to me, God! Don't allow me to forget that!"  Then I sit beside a friend with a bigger problem than I, sickness in her body and am reminded my life really is not bad at all!

I am reading the story of Joseph in Genesis this week in my Bible plan and let me tell you, I don't think I could have handled his situation at all! I mean really, could you hold on through being plotted against by your own family, knowing they actually wanted you dead... You think for a minute you may be okay if you can just climb out of this well they've thrown you into, or perhaps you will be saved if a Sheppard brings his sheep by for some water... Then, strangely you family shows up and gets you out themselves, a little ray of hope they've had a change of heart until you see the money exchange hands as your own sibling pushes you to the ground at the feet of your new master... Yes, master, you are officially a slave being taken away from everyone and everything you know into a strange country where you don't even speak the native language. And worst of all in your eyes you had one piece of home, one piece of your parents... A coat your father made for you.. You had one piece of home... Just before selling you, your brother tore the very coat off your back. After a few years in slavery in a country you didn't know, you start to find some comfort... After all, you've learned the language and your master has actually been listening to you because of the "good luck" that just seems to follow you, everything you touch just seems to grow into something profitable for your master!  But then some hussy lies about you and that's it, no questioning, no trial, no chances, you're thrown into jail... And not just any jail, a dark, cold, wet dungeon.  You spend years in that jail cell, but as far as prisoners go, your stay isn't completely unbearable because you've found the favor of the warden... He's noticed your kindness and actually has put you in charge of your part of the pit... In charge of a pit, I'm not so sure that's a great thing but at least it's something to "hold onto."  You've met a lot of other prisoners, mended their wounds and tried to encourage them, most have rotted and died in their chains but one, a cup bearer, actually made it out and back into the king's house! You've done a favor for him and he is supposed to remember you and ask your master to give you a second chance but after days, weeks and certainly after the first month has passed you realize he's forgotten all about his promises.  Two more years pass and you've all but lost any hope of even seeing sunshine again let alone reclaiming a life of your own...  I mean, I would have given up long ago! I wouldn't make it in a well for more than a few hours, I certainly wouldn't make it through the beatings of slavery, and if by some grace I did make it through those two situations you can forget about ever seeing me again once I was sent to a jail pit!

When you think of people you know who have life threatening illness or a story like that of Joseph you have to admit, our situations pale in comparison... Still, they are real to us and if we are being honest with ourselves, it's scary to think how long we may have to spend in our respective "pits."  But, God is always there, even when we can't see Him, hear Him or sense His presence, He is there.  So I guess I will just share with you some of what is encouraging me to keep going... First is a book (I know Teri-Lyn, you're shocked aren't you... Well I have to confess I was read to haha!) it's called "The Prisoner in the Third Cell" by Gene Edwards.  I can guarantee you a book like that will change your outlook on what is going on in your life. (Another Gene Edwards book I love is "A Tale of Three Kings" it's actually, probably one of my favorite books of all time and a quick read, which if you know me at all you know I like.) Lastly, music... Music has been my friend through so many of my life's tragedies and disappointments.  Just making a playlist of songs written for God and listening through the faithful words can help you realize that though you're waiting to hear, see and sense God maybe He is waiting for the same from you... Maybe He wants you to take the first step toward Him, remind Him of your love instead of asking Him for vengeance... Just listen to a couple of songs, let go of the darkness and chill of the pit, close your eyes and send you heart to search for God... Sing some of the words to Him, love Him instead of requiring from Him, just for a moment.  Soon enough you'll be reminded He is closer than you knew.

And lastly, back to the story of Joseph... It was twenty years between the time Joseph got a promise from God and when Joseph was in that pit... TWENTY YEARS! Even worse, there is not even a record of Joseph ever hearing from God during those twenty years! Can you imagine?! But Joseph kept loving God, helping others and grasping hope.  Two years after that cup bearer made it into the house of the king someone opens the door of the pit and calls for Joseph.  Still not knowing what exactly what was going on, Joseph is escorted up the steps, into the sunlight than now hurts his eyes and he is told to clean up, put robes on that do not belong to him and he will be escorted to the king... I know you are all thinking he would be excited but just think about yourself in that position for a moment... Yes, it could be good news but it could also be that you are going to be put to death... Maybe you've waited in a pit only to see sunshine for a moment before your life is ended, still think you would be excited?  Scary. Still Joseph stepped into the presence of the king and his life ended. His life of fear, sadness, harshness and darkness... The king asked Joseph for a favor and when Joseph gladly obliged the King was so grateful and respected Joseph so much he took Joseph to a window overlooking the kingdom and said "Look as far as the eye can see is mine... And what is mine I put you in charge of." Joseph's heart relaxed, tears filled his eyes, even though he had no idea what God was doing and still didn't know why he had to go through all of what he went through, it was over.  In the end the promise God had given to Joseph was fulfilled and he was even reunited with the father he thought he has lost along with his coat.

You may be in a bad place in life now, and it could be a long haul even from here... But find something to keep you going, hold onto something, encourage others and yourself in the process. God will come through!