“Self-Pity is a Slimy, Bottomless Pit. Once you fall in, you tend to go deeper and deeper into the mire. As you slide down those slippery walls, you are well on your way to depression, and the darkness is profound.” ~Sarah Young

 

There are words your parents say to you as a child that stay with you forever for better or for worse.

I remember walking one night with my dad. We often took walks together when I was in high school.

It was dark and sticky.

And I can’t recall the reason for my emotions, but I was upset and crying.

“Get a backbone,” he instructed roughly.

No gentle words rolled from his lips to soften my pain nor questions to attempt understanding my tears.

Of course I was offended. His bark came with a bite.

My dad never was one for much emotion. He hated weaknesses, but even though his words seemed cruel that sticky, summer night, they have been used for good.

I prayed not to let my emotions rule me. I prayed for a backbone.

I’m a good 30 years older now, and a lot of life has been experienced, and truthfully, I’ve found myself wanting to tell other people to, “Get a backbone.”

But I haven’t. Because I know how those words hurt.

After three decades of living, from the ecstasy of falling in love with Prince Charming (who is really very human like I am) to the joy of children birthed into this world, to lonely, seemingly purposeless days, to heartache and grief of the loss of my favorite and only sister on the planet…after all that living I’ve learned that I need something or someone bigger and stronger and greater than me because my backbone is made up of human DNA and is prone to pride and self-pity.

And I know that the self-pity pit can be pretty comfortable despite the slime.

But Jesus.

The first three verses of Psalm 40 are beautiful, hopeful, strengthening, full of promise. They promise the faithfulness of God to pull us out of our slimy-pits.

“…He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.”

Isaiah explains who our rock is. “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord is the Rock eternal.”

Jesus taught the parable about the man who built his house on a rock and the man who foolishly built his house on sand.

Those words seem clear. But “gave me a firm place to stand” means more than not sinking. The Hebrew counterpart translated as “firm” is Kun.

This word does mean “to be firm, be established, be steadfast, be faithful, be sure, be reliable, be fixed, and be certain.” But the definition continues…

“…Denotes bringing something into existence. Signifies initial preparation or formation, actual preparation for a future event, such as a meal or a military campaign; spiritual preparation….Kun also signifies the deep satisfaction and sense of well-being which comes from the certainty that one’s heart steadfastly trusts in the Lord, who directs man’s paths.” (Key-Word, NIV, p.1522).

You might need to read the definition again.

Do you see what I see?

I see satisfaction and certainty. I see formation and preparation for something to come. Purpose beyond our dreams.

• satisfaction and certainty
• formation and preparation
• purpose

But it all comes from calling out to God and putting trust in Him.

 

[tweetability]I’m done with slimy-pits, how about you?[/tweetability]

 

What words spoken by a parent or someone you respected affected you for better or for worse? What do you think Jesus is preparing you for?

 

With Joy,

 

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