Down in the Dumps
Down in the Dumps
He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure. (Ps. 40:2)
Going Down
Edward Mote, composer of the hymn “The Solid Rock,” was neglected by his saloon-keeper parents, and his formative years were spent either in a pub or roaming the streets. But by age eighteen he had become a follower of Christ, as God lifted him from the pit and set his feet upon the Solid Rock of Jesus. He was a simple cabinetmaker for most of his life, but at age fifty-five he entered the ministry and became a pastor.
Sometimes, however, the pit is self-inflicted. Psalm 40 is a prayer of King David, evidently occasioned by sins that had overtaken him (v. 12). Probably all of us have felt that way before. But whether we fell innocently into the pit or dug it on our own, none of us wants to stay there for long. Without trying to give simplistic answers, what can we do when we find ourselves down in the dumps?
Going Up
Among the many things listed in Psalm 40, David waited patiently and cried out to the Lord (v. 1). He sang new songs of praise (v. 3). He made the Lord his trust (v. 4). What God does in us while we wait is probably more important than what we’re waiting for. God truly is more concerned with our character than our comfort, and believe it or not, that’s something we should be thankful for.
Bottom Line
Wait on the Lord. He will prove Himself to be your help and deliverer (see Ps. 40:17).