Life in the Pit

I left fulltime ministry in June 1994. It seemed easier to enter fulltime ministry than to leave because I entered as a single and I was leaving with a wife and two children. I estimated that our savings would last us about a year or so. I had difficulty finding a job because many felt that my skills in ministry were not transferable to the corporate world. But I had left and I couldn't go forward ... I felt cornered. I felt like punching the wall ... I did ... punched the cupboard; it wasn't as hard!

33 For He does not afflict willingly

Or grieve the sons of men.

34 To crush under His feet

All the prisoners of the land,

35 To deprive a man of justice

In the presence of the Most High,

36 To defraud a man in his lawsuit --

Of these things the Lord does not approve.

37 Who is there who speaks and it comes to pass,

Unless the Lord has commanded it?

38 Is it not from the mouth of the Most High

That both good and ill go forth? Lam 3:33-38

From the above, we learnt that ...

God does not take pleasure in our affliction and pain
God is just and fair
Both good and bad come from the Lord

During the trying times, I hung on to the fact that God loves me ... though I could not see the purpose behind what I was going through ... that God is in control of the things that were happening to me.

I felt I needed wisdom so I read the Book of Proverbs from beginning to end then back to the beginning again ... read it several times.

I knew that there was a probability that I would become "bitter" if I continued to focus on the negative; so I decided to pour my energy into something positive. I started to work on a book on dramatised family devotions. I had been acting out Bible stories with my two boys for the past three years and they had enjoyed the times together; the idea to write a book was conceived a year back; and now I decided to "deliver" this baby.

On looking back, I see a little "light" of God's sovereign control. It was partly due to the fact that I was writing a book that helped me secure a job. My boss was looking for someone who can train and write. Business was slow so I had time to learn and pick up computer skills.

Sometimes we are in a pit because we stumbled into it; other times, we slide into it ourselves, not realising that we are getting deeper and deeper!

39 Why should any living mortal, or any man,

Offer complaint in view of his sins?

40 Let us examine and probe our ways,

And let us return to the LORD.

41 We lift up our heart and hands

Toward God in heaven;

42 We have transgressed and rebelled,

You have not pardoned.

43 You have covered Yourself with anger

And pursued us;

You have slain and have not spared.

44 You have covered Yourself with a cloud

So that no prayer can pass through.

45 You have made us mere offscouring and refuse

In the midst of the peoples.

46 All our enemies have opened their mouths against us.

Lam 3:39-46

From this second passage, we learnt that ...

If we suffer affliction and our prayers are not answered because of our sins then we can't complain!
There is a need for self-examination and honesty

Yes, I did sin and had done things I should not have. What's the solution? Cry more? Repent more sincerely before God can forgive me?

The God who cannot tolerate sin is the same God who sent Christ to die on the cross for us.

"Come now, and let us reason together,"

Says the LORD,

"Though your sins are as scarlet,

They will be as white as snow;

Though they are red like crimson,

They will be like wool. Isa 1:18

6 If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness,

we lie and do not practice the truth;

7 but if we walk in the Light as He Himself is in the Light,

we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

8 If we say that we have no sin,

we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins,

He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins

and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we have not sinned,

we make Him a liar and His word is not in us.

1 John 1:6-10

Do you know why you are in a pit? If it is sin then confess and claim His forgiveness.

Regardless of how bad your situation is, no matter how deep a pit you have fallen into, God is there. He loves you and is in control of your circumstances. Stretch out your hand to God. He will take your hand and walk with you.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I fear no evil, for You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psa 23:4