Worship

Scripture

I can still remember my first favorite story: The Pit and the Pendulum by Edgar Allen Poe. A friend of my father gifted me an old collection of Poe’s stories, and although they all helped stir a love for reading in me, The Pit and the Pendulum was special. For those of you who haven’t read it, I won’t spoil it completely, but will provide a quick synopsis. A man is imprisoned in a dungeon. It is completely dark and he doesn’t know what the room he is in looks like. He gains his bearings by slowly crawling around the room and taking note of his surroundings. All the while, a gentle and steady “woosh” is heard above his head. Honestly, nothing grotesque or terrible really happens. It’s the unknown that is so thrilling while reading the story. The man is unaware of where he is, what surrounds him, and if or when he will escape – truly terrifying.

I imagine Jeremiah felt similarly as they lowered him into the cistern. As he slowly sank into the more of the pitch-black pit with no idea of when or if he would escape must have been hit wrenching. I think a younger me would have liked to believe as Jeremiah waded in the mire that he simply closed his eyes and calmly and peacefully awaited God to rescue him – faithfully waiting without fear that God would provide a way. Yet, as a (slightly) more mature man, I doubt this was the case. I believe Jeremiah was scared.

I used to think that my walk with God would transform my life into some sort of painless endeavor without suffering or problems. If you listen to some people, they even “sell” the idea that this is indeed what the life of a Christian looks like. Yet, this isn’t what my life is like, what many of my friends’ lives are like, and it certainly wasn’t what Christ’s life was like. Our lives are not to be without suffering, but to be faithful through the suffering. There is no doubt that Jeremiah was scared as he was lowered into the cistern, but that doesn’t mean that he wasn’t faithful, prayerful, and hopeful. Live or die, Jeremiah was convicted to speak the truth. Many of us face much lesser punishments, but are we willing to remain faithful and prayerful in the midst of darkness and unknowing?

Prayer

HONOR GOD

At the end of the day, our most satisfying life is when God is most glorified. How can you glorify Him today?

ASK GOD

Healing comes by confession. Ask God to meet you through the confessions of your heart and heal you. What do you need to confess to Him?

SUBMIT TO GOD