Rescuer of Pit Dwellers

But the Lord was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.

Psalm 18:18b-19

Praise the Lord! He rescues us from the pit! I don’t know about you, but I have been in the pit many times throughout my life. Sometimes it’s sin that throws us into the pit, however, sometimes it is circumstances out of our control that throw us head-long into it.  

One of the most significant of my pit experiences was grieving the loss of my Kennedy Claire. She passed away on October 19, 1997, a few days shy of being five months old, of Spinal Muscular Atrophy.

For three years, I tried to claw my way back to the surface of the pit of grief, especially through the fall and winter seasons. It was a time of the deepest, darkest depression that I have ever known. 

But one October day, three years after her death, I stood outside and felt the first cool breezes of fall brush my face. I realized in that moment that it was the changing of the season and the cool weather each year that threw me mercilessly back into the pit of grief-filled depression.  

This revelation was from the Lord. It was in that very moment that He encouraged me with the notion that I was going to survive and be okay. This moment brought a renewed hope in my deliverance from this pain. This moment marked the beginning of my slow climb out of the pit of grief. 

Regardless of the reason we find ourselves in the pit, Jesus loves us, is with us, and rescues us.  

Jesus, I praise you! You are faithful to be our support and bring us out into a spacious place. Lord, Psalm 18 tells us that You rescue us because You delight in us! What a treasure to know how You love, delight in, and rescue us. Thank you, Jesus.

 Johna Clemons