Several springs
ago in Southwest Virginia we had a month that was especially rainy. It seemed like everything was drenched for
days. So when the clouds finally broke
and the first sunny day came along I couldn’t wait to get outside. I went down to my favorite place to walk,
Bissett park where half of the trail runs along the bank of the New River. I was feeling serene and ready to spend some
time with God in prayer and just soak up nature. Taking in the beauty all
around me, I parked in the first picnic shelter lot and slowly made my way
toward the asphalt trail. As I started walking on the side where the river was
I thought I would find a good place to go off of the trail to get closer to the
water’s edge. Finding an open grassy
area that didn’t look too steep, I commenced cautiously inching my way down the
bank toward the water. Before my mind
was able to process what was happening I felt my tennis shoes flying out from
under me. Maaaaan down! Not only did I land on my behind but I was now
continuing my descent down the embankment toward the river! Coming to rest just short of the water, I was
finally able to get up and assess the damage.
Thankfully I wasn’t physically hurt, my pride, however, wasn’t as
fortunate. I turned my head as best as I
could to look myself over, only to discover mud all over my butt and all the
way up my back. I hadn’t thought about
all of the rain making the embankment a mud pit that was simply camouflaged by
the grass.
At this
point I’m laughing hysterically. I make
my way back up the hill, looking around to see if any lucky passerby saw the
whole spectacle. As far as I could tell,
I was unnoticed. Needless to say my
“spiritual” mood had left me and with my entire back covered in drying mud the
only self-respecting thing I had left to do was to go directly back to my car
and make my exit. But before pulling
away I sat in the car and laughed some more because I had literally just
parked, walked to the river, fell, got back up and went straight back to the
car within a matter of minutes. That was
the shortest trip I had ever had to the park.
So much for all of that God time I set out to have!
This kind of
thing happens to me pretty often, rolling around in mud you ask…no, obviously
not in such drastic terms. Those are
reserved for my truly special moments in life. No what I mean is in more subtle ways. I start
my day off with my “spiritual goggles” on; I’m looking for God and seeking to
spend time with Him. My intentions are
in the right place but sometimes my day gets out of control so quickly I don’t
have time to react. I get distracted and
it’s only when I lay my head down at night I realize how the God time got
replaced by everything else demanding my attention.
Or on the
days I do start off on the right foot with prayer and the Word, I may fall into
that mud later when I say or do the wrong thing. Oh and on my worst days I end up wallowing in
that mud pit just like a pig! But thank
God He tells me in His Word that even when I’m covered in the proverbial mud of
my sin I do not have to make my home in the pit.
“He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to
stand.” (Ps 40:2) He
says I am His child, an heir to His kingdom! (Rom 8:17) I am more than a
conqueror! (Rom 8:37) That I don’t have to have a spirit of fear or timidity,
but one of power, love, and a sound mind!
(2 Tim 1:7) He formed me in my mother’s womb, and He knows what I am
going to say before the words are formed on my tongue! (Ps 139) I am forgiven, and when I mess up I keep
asking Him for the grace to wash me clean of my mistakes! And just like the woman in Proverbs 31 I can
laugh at the days to come! (Prov
31:25) I’ve learned it gets easier to just
giggle at myself, pick up, and carry on another day!
But what
about you? What are you telling yourself
when you fall into that mud? If it’s not
speaking the truth of WHO YOU ARE in Christ then you are setting yourself up
for the condemnation of the enemy. Learn
to laugh at the things life throws at you and claim the truth of God’s Word
over yourself. My friend, there is no
mud hole too deep that the grace of God can’t lift you out of. Ask Him.
Bravo!
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