When Stuck in a Muddy Pit

“I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. He has put a new song in my mouth — Praise to our God; many will see it and fear, and will trust in the Lord.” Psalm 40:1–3 (NKJV) Do you remember a time when you or someone you knew got stuck in the mud? I remember one time, when I was a kid, I was in a mud puddle, and my gum boot was stuck good. The more I tried to get it out, the “stucker” I got! I struggled in my own strength, but nope, I needed help. When I finally realized I couldn’t do it on my own, that is when I called “Heelllppp!” Then I got the help I needed. Well, as I grew older, I found myself stuck in different “muddy pits” of things that God didn’t want me to do, such as cigarettes and alcohol. I tried to quit on my own strength, and it was just like when I was a kid stuck in the mud. I remember always crying out to God for help, even in the pits of desperation, “Please, God, help me! I don’t want this in my life anymore.” I kept on asking for His help and — in the way only God can do — those muddy pits are no longer keeping me stuck! He got me out. I am thankful for His mighty ways. You may be thinking, “I’m so ashamed of my muddy pits, and I don’t want anyone to know how stuck I am.” God knows, and He wants to help. He went to the cross to pay for my muddy pit sins. He put a new song in my heart. He is trustworthy. We just need to ask for His help every second of every day. — Shannon Menelaws-Laier   Council Fire is a collaboration with Intertribal Life Ministries and Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada. The Council Fire Daily Devotional Book Set is available on the Intertribal Life Ministries website. Learn more about Council Fire at councilfire365.org