62. Finding God in the Dark Night of the Soul ("The Pit")

What do you do when you find yourself in the pit?In this reflection on Psalm 30, John Ortberg explores one of the Bible's most powerful metaphors for suffering: the pit, the depths, the darkness, Sheol.Sometimes the pit is grief.Sometimes it's depression, failure, anxiety, physical pain, a broken relationship, a dream that has died, or something completely beyond our control.And sometimes the night lasts much longer than we ever imagined.John shares personally about a season when the pain didn't go away the next day...or the next. One thought became especially important:It will not always be this way.That doesn't mean circumstances will immediately improve. It doesn't even mean things can't get worse. It means that even in the darkness, God can still be found.Psalm 30 says, “Weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”We don't know how long the night will last.But the night doesn't get the last word.In this episode:Psalm 30 and the biblical image of "the pit"What to do when suffering overwhelms youWhy "joy comes in the morning" isn't a formula or timelineFinding God in darknessPsalm 139 and finding God in SheolHow to keep going when circumstances don't improveWhy we can't lift ourselves out of every pitMourning and dancing existing togetherHope when the night feels endlessScriptures:Psalm 30 • Psalm 139:8 • Genesis 37 • Jeremiah 38 • Daniel 6 • Revelation 21:4#Psalm30 #JohnOrtberg #Psalms #Suffering #Hope #Prayer #SpiritualFormation #ChristianFaith #BibleStudy #Grief🙌 New episodes every weekday.📲 Subscribe, like, and share to help others grow spiritually. One day at a time.Become New is here to help you grow spiritually one day at a time.TEXT us at 51504EMAIL US at [email protected] OUR WEEKDAY EMAILS WITH EXTRA GOODIES at becomenew.com/subscribeGET A TEXT REMINDER FOR NEW VIDEOS: text NEW to 51504SEND US PRAYER REQUESTS: via text or email; we'll send you a written prayer from our teamDOWNLOAD FREE STUDY GUIDES: BecomeNew.com/study-guides😊 Join Our Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1CnqywVp9s/🤳Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/become.new/Music Credits:Vikersund by RØRE - MB01V0UASAACPKEAlta by RØRE - MB01IWZVJASGKHF00:00 What to Do When You're in the Pit00:29 What Does "the Pit" Mean?00:58 Psalm 30 Begins01:29 Weeping May Last for the Night01:56 When God Feels Hidden02:20 Bargaining With God03:10 You Turned My Wailing Into Dancing03:37 This Isn't a Formula or Timeline04:04 The Biblical Image of the Pit04:44 When Pain Takes Over Everything05:35 When All You Can Do Is Hurt05:46 How Long Does the Night Last?06:06 It Will Not Always Be This Way06:30 What If Things Get Worse?06:52 Finding God in the Darkness07:19 If I Make My Bed in Sheol07:46 Remember You're Not the Only One08:25 God Has Met Suffering People Before08:44 Finding Meaning in the Pit09:00 When You're Going Through Hell, Keep Going09:22 You Can't Lift Yourself Out of the Pit10:07 Laughter Comes Again10:36 Mourning Becomes Dancing10:54 God Is Lord Even Over the Pit11:14 Don't You Give Up