Have you ever been in the pit, my friend? Have you ever been in the deep, dark, muddy pit? Have you ever gotten yourself so deep in the pit you wondered if you would ever be able to escape it? Have you ever lost your way and thought you might never find your way again? Have you ever carried a load so heavy that you feared you may be crushed beneath its weight? Have you ever known pain, the kind that shatters not only your heart but your dreams as well? Have you ever walked with shame as your constant companion? Or heard guilt continually whispering your name?
If so, then you know how desperately one can long for peace. If so, then you understand the measures people are willing to go to just to find relief, just to find some peace. Beloved, may I whisper a truth to your heart? There is only one place and one place alone, where one can find this kind of peace. Men may try a lot of things, but they will only find true peace in one place. That place is at the foot of the cross. You will never find true peace anywhere else, dear heart. Believe me, I know the truth of this. I’ve been there, friend, and I know what it feels like to find the help and peace I longed for.
“Peace I leave with you; My peace I give to you, not as the world gives do I give it to you” John 14:27. I write about Him, I talk about Him, and I teach about Him because I KNOW what it feels like to find peace in Him. I know what it feels like to be rescued from the pit. Psalm 40:1-3 is my testimony! Friend, that peace that you are looking for can only be found in Him. Nothing else will satisfy your heart like He can. Nothing else can bring peace to your troubled mind like He can. Oh, precious friend, if you only knew the hope and help that can be found in surrendering to Him!
Beloved, if I could sit for a while with you, I’d tell you what amazing things He has done in my heart and life. I would tell you what it feels like to be lifted out of “the pit of destruction” and have my feet set “upon a rock” (Ps. 40). I would tell you how surrendering to Him and choosing to believe His Word has completely changed my life. I would tell you that learning what His Word says about me has changed the way I think and live. I would love to sit with you and tell you some of the things He says about you, dear heart. I would love to tell you how much He loves you.
If we could sit together for a while, I would tell you how even on the absolute most difficult of days, He is there. I would share with you how He has always been there with me, walking with me through every difficulty I face. I would tell you that He is the best Friend I have ever had. I would tell you how that even when I fail Him, He never fails me. I would love to share with you how He took all the shattered pieces of my heart and put them back together again. I would love to tell you all about how He has held me close and caught every tear I have cried.
If I could sit a while with you, I would tell you that He could pull you out of the pit and help you just like He has helped me. I would tell you that He can take your tears and your fears and give you peace like you’ve never known. If I could, I would urge you to give it all to Him. I would urge you to give Him your pain and trust Him to bring the healing that you need. I would share with you how I have experienced His faithfulness and assure you that He could do the same for you. I would open His Word and share with you some promises that I hold dear and urge you to find some for you to cling to.
My friend, I cannot lie to you. My life has not turned out the way I had always dreamed it would. In fact, it has been a lot harder than I ever imagined it would be. I am definitely not here to sell you a fairy tale or promise that life will be nothing but blessed and wonderful. However, I am here to tell you that even when life does not turn out the way you had dreamed, when life doesn’t turn out the way you planned it; it can still be beautiful. Beloved, I have learned that life can be both difficult and beautiful at the same time. Only God can make this possible!
If I were to be completely transparent with you right now, my friend, I would tell you that life has been extremely stressful lately which has caused my fibromyalgia to flare up worse than it has in several years. I am tired, stressed, and every day is a challenge… but I still find beauty in each day. I still see my God at some point every day. I still see His faithfulness. I still experience His goodness. I may have to look a little harder some days, but there is always something to be thankful for. There is always something to praise Him for. There is always something to help me keep pressing on.
Dear heart, I don’t know what you may be going through, but if you are like so many people I talk to lately, you are dealing with your fair share of challenges. And while I may not be able to sit with you and share some of the things I’d love to share with you, I can remind you of a few last truths before I go. God is still in the business of delivering people. God is still able to pull people out of the pit. Absolutely nothing is too difficult for our God (Jer. 32:17). He is still able to rescue, deliver, and heal those who come to Him. He still offers peace to those who seek refuge in Him.
Whatever cares are burdening your heart today, you can find rest in Him. Whatever pit you may find yourself in, He can lift you out of it and set your feet on solid ground again. That pain that is nearly crushing you, He can bring you healing, precious one. Give the pieces of your shattered heart to Him and let Him begin to piece you back together again. Beloved, He can help; He is the hope that you have been looking for. Trust me; His love is the most beautiful thing I have ever experienced. That is why I am telling you all of this. I want you to know and experience it for yourself!
I want you to know the hope that I have found in Him. I want you to know the healing I have experienced in His presence. I want you to know the comfort I have found in His embrace. I want you to know the peace that I have found in Him. I want you to know what it feels like to walk in the freedom that He offers. Oh, beloved, I want you to know the joy of knowing you are His and what it feels like to be defined by Him. I want you to know what it feels like to trade in the lies you have believed for the truth found in His Word. I want you to know Him like you’ve never known Him before!!
Why? Because there is nothing in this world that can compare to Him. There is nothing in this world that will give you the peace that you can find in Him. I’m going to say it again, dear heart, and hope that you will let the truth of what I am saying sink deeply into your heart. There is nothing in this world that will give you the peace that you can find in Him. Nothing. Oh, beloved, I implore you to look to Him for whatever it is that you are needing today! Nothing can satisfy you like He can! Nothing! Come to Him, kneel at the foot of the cross, give it all to Him, and find the love and peace that you need!
I waited patiently for the Lord; And He inclined to me and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay, and He set my feet up on a rock making my footsteps firm. He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God; many will see and fear and will trust in the Lord. Psalm 40:1-3
Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. 2 Thessalonians 3:16
Casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:7
I sought the LORD, and He answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Psalm 34:4
And call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me. Psalm 50:15
For freedom Christ has set us free…Gal. 5:1a
Katrina Douglas
4/18/2022
