He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire . . .He put a new song in my mouth. (Psalm 40:2-3)
If you could stand a bit of encouragement today, then please read on. The psalmist reminds us that our God is in the business of taking whatever mess we find ourselves in and turning it into a masterpiece. He takes us from the pit and places us in the palace. And He lifts us out of the mire and calls us into the choir, that we might join the heavenly chorus in singing praises to His mighty and merciful name.
Take just a cursory glance through the Bible, and you will see that our God delights in delivering His people from the mire into the choir. He took Moses from the mire of murder after Moses killed the Egyptian who was beating the Hebrew slave. Forty years later, God called Moses out of the backside of the desert to sing a song of deliverance to Pharaoh. God also took the apostle Paul from the mire of murder. Paul (then Saul) stood by, watching approvingly and holding the coats of those stoned Stephen for boldly bearing witness to the Righteous One, Jesus Christ. And the song that God gave Paul to sing turned in to nearly two-thirds of the New Testament.
Here is a biblical truth that we all must keep in view. God has promised to take us from the mire to the choir, but often He does not deliver us out of the mire, but through it. May these lyrics from God Hath Not Promised, by Annie Johnson Fling (1866-1932), minister to you this day.
God hath not promised skies always blue,
Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through;
God hath not promised sun without rain,
Joy without sorrow, peace without pain.
But God hath promised strength for the day,
Rest for the labor, light for the way,
Grace for the trials, help from above,
Unfailing sympathy, undying love.
Christian, the mire you find yourself in is not likely to be murder; perhaps it is a marriage gone sour, a prodigal child, struggles at work, a habit that has turned into an addiction . . . I could go on. But please know that God is at work in your life right now, conforming you to the image and likeness of His beloved Son. He has promised to never leave you nor forsake you, and He has promised to take you from the mire to the choir . . . and, as the psalmist said, “Many will see what he has done and be astounded. They will put their trust in the Lord” (Psalm 40:3).
What an incredible promise our loving Lord has given you! I pray that many will put their trust in the Lord as you go about your day today, singing joyful songs of praise to your Redeemer!
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 