A Cry from the Pit

Psalm 130:1-6

Out of the depths I call to You, LORD! Lord, listen to my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my cry for help. LORD, if You considered sins, Lord, who could stand? But with You there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered. I wait for the LORD; I wait, and put my hope in His word. I wait for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning – more than watchmen for the morning.

The psalmist feels the despair of a pit he has dug for himself by his own sins. He cannot save himself and knows that only God can rescue him from his own failures. Out of desperation, He calls to God, relying upon His faithful love and forgiving nature.

Who among us has not dug a pit for ourselves? We serve a God who keeps no record of wrongs and is not trying to punish us by keeping us in the pit. If we truly want out, all we need to do is cry out to Him and receive forgiveness for our sins. He is faithful and just to forgive. And yes, He will lift us out of the pit and set us on higher ground! As The Message Bible explains, forgiveness is God’s habit, and He waits for us to cry out to Him.

The psalmist compared his wait as the watchmen waits for morning. Watchmen were stationed around the towers of a city to watch out for potential attack. They were to be on guard and ready to alert the townspeople if they saw an approaching threat. At daybreak, his shift was complete. As the watchmen waited and watched for attack, so we are to be on guard and watch for threats from the enemy until our shift is over and we can rest.

If you find yourself in a pit of despair – by your own doing or by circumstances beyond your control – cry out to God and wait. He is faithful and just to forgive, and He has a rescue plan for you. He can help you overcome, and He has not forsaken you nor forgotten you. Put your hope in Him because He truly cares for you.

Have a blessed day!