Swallowed by the pit, attempt is my strength. Leaving this bottomless pit is a must. So I attempt, reaching my arms,
stretching…sinking my fingers into the slim of comparison.
“Maybe, if I can keep
my house clean like her…or perhaps, their ‘paradise’ homeschool experience will
pale in comparison to my plans and crafts and cuddle reading times. Perhaps P90X will make me look like her. Maybe, just maybe, I can lift myself up out of
this hellhole.”
But the harder I try, I find no substance for my hands to
grasp.
“She has more children, more talent, a slimmer, athletic
body. God must really think a lot of
her.”
The attempt to climb out of the muddy walls of comparison
provide no stronghold. I find myself
falling, right back where I began, deep within the pit.
I turn to the other side of the engulfing pit…
“Maybe this side will prove more successful.”
My foot searches for a rock climber’s dream. Yet the mudslide of “being good enough”
proves itself to be of no help. Still, I
attempt…
1.
Study the Bible
2.
Obey all rules
3.
Be polite
4.
Say religious prayers…so everyone will hear
me…and be impressed
5.
Post really cute but unrealistic pictures of our
homeschool
I attempt to appear to those around me the perfect wife, the
perfect mother, in a perfect home. I attempt…attempt…I
fall. Deeper still.
The sinkhole of jealousy takes its toll. I cannot fight anymore. It sucks me in, absorbing every part of my
being…
“Why has God blessed her with more children? Why does it always seem everyone’s name is
called yet I’m still sitting in the waiting room? Why do I have a 1979 galley-kitchen-for-one
while she has a gourmet kitchen yet hates cooking? How is it possible that I work out day after
day yet still haven’t achieved that beachbody?”
I sink, further and further in self-pity and jealousy. My surroundings become dark and messy and
hopeless. I muster out a cry yet my
voice is muttered in the soundproof mud walls.
Finally, sweet release…
And then…HE lifts me out of the pit, out of the muck and
mire and HE sets my feet on the rock and HE gives me a firm place to
stand! HE lifts me to a cliff far from
the depths of despair.
The heavens open
and mercy drops shower over me, rinsing me clean of the muck and mire. The light of HIS truth immerses me. The winds of the HOLY SPIRIT encircle me and
I breath…I breath fresh truths into the crevices of my soul. And the GOD ALMIGHTY, the I AM, reminds me
that I am his daughter…and it was never his plan for me to inhabit the pit.
Suddenly perspectives alter.
The earth grows dim in HIS presence.
The darkness scatters in HIS light.
The muck and mire are no longer in control.
For HE lifted me out of the pit of self-doom.
HE put my feet on the Rock of HIS Word.
HE is everything good…all hope…eternal salvation. HE is my rock. HE is my EVERYTHING!
After a lifetime of useless work and unsuccessful attempts
and slippery slopes, I finally rest. I
rest in HIM. I rest in HIS peace. I long to be higher and closer to GOD
ALMIGHTY. My voice cannot be contained
and air-filled lungs and a not-so-talented set of vocal chords begin to
sing! Deep emotion and heartfelt
thanksgiving ring out into all the earth!
Thank you, JESUS!
Thank you, JESUS!
“…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.
He put a new
song in my mouth,
a hymn of
praise to our God.
Many will
see and fear
and put
their trust in the Lord.”
Psalm 40:1-2