The Pit of Despair

My favorite movie of all time is The Princess Bride. I love the twisted humor entwined with romance and adventure. From the moment that the farm boy is ordered to "fetch me that pitcher" I am engrossed in the story that unfolds with its mischievous villains, giants, wizards, and of course, the six fingered man! One part of the movie that always tickles me is when Westley is captured and held hostage by the albino in the Pit of Despair. What a dramatic name for a place to be held hostage, the Pit of Despair. Calling it the Cave of Doom just wouldn't do the movie justice. This is the end of our hero! Westley is surely going to die. It is a hopeless situation and despair is the word that best describes this point in the movie.

As I was reading my bible today, I came across this verse, Psalm 40:1-3 "I waited patiently for the Lord to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord." There it is! The Pit of Despair!! At the moment in our lives when things seem hopeless, God is there to save the day. He lifts us up and sets our feet again on solid ground. Now, it seems wrong in so many ways to draw an analogy between Westley in the movie and my life but how funny is it that God used this way to describe the hopeless and insecure time in our lives. He lifts us up, gives us a song to sing, and people will see what He has done.

Our church is going through a difficult time right now as we transition from a situation that has been comfortable into a new beginning and new leadership. It is a tough time and many feel unsure, insecure, and maybe even without hope. I'm not sure I would define our situation as the pit of despair but there have been nights we have cried and wondered how we would ever escape this despairing situation. Satan has used this situation to get a foothold and cause unsettled feelings of anxiety among our people. As I read this verse in the Psalm today, I was overwhelmed with a sense of comfort. God has picked me up and set my feet on solid ground and will steady me as I walk along. If there is anything I could tell the people at Lifepoint right now that are feeling shaky and searching for stability it would be this, many will see what God has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. Hang on to the steady hand of God as we regain our balance and overcome the Pit of Despair.