Emerging From the Deep Dark Hole "The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly…John 10:10.” A dear Christian friend requested prayer for a lady who two years earlier had lost her husband from an unexpected illness. This was her second marriage and for the two the future looked bright until this catastrophic event. The husband’s medical treatment resulted in a lengthy hospitalization for which there was no insurance leaving a widow with a debt on top of funeral expenses exceeding $100,000. Working in entry level employment and living on humble means, this lady could neither pay off the debt nor agree to file for bankruptcy. She told my friend she felt she had fallen into a deep dark hole with no way out. She believed every relationship in which she trusted ended up in despair. She described her new normal as being in chronic debt, dealing with overbearing collection agencies, going to work, coming home exhausted and going to bed to only repeat the same cycle the next day. From the depths of her pain, this lady could not accept that God loved her. She told my friend, “If God loves me; He has a strange way of showing it!” Her heart was closed to hearing anything further about God’s love, peace, provision or comfort. Perhaps later when time allows the pain to subside a bit, this lady may be more open to truth but not now. Given these heartbreaking circumstances, the Lord impressed upon my heart how easy one can fall prey to the “thief” referenced in the above verse. The enemy’s schemes come with many built in rationalizations which sound acceptable to the world. How quickly a person can fall into this devious trap (2 Timothy 2:26); a deep hole in which there seems no way out. What seems worse is how the thief can so manipulate circumstances where a person feels justified living in a state of alienation and hostility toward God. The tragedy is this situation represents thousands of people who because of circumstances view God as unloving and uncaring. How devastating for a person to go through life and never know intimately the Person who truly loves them and will not forsake them? How heartbreaking to never know the mind of the One who came to give life and life abundant to His children. How tragic to forfeit a Love so freely given if received which could carry a person through the tribulations of this world. How awful to miss the wonderful joys and experiences the life, the truth and the way of this One would bring (John 14:6) to the aching heart. I kept thinking of the daily words of comfort and encouragement missed in the difficulties of life because this one was deceived and, therefore, unwilling to receive the Lord’s comfort. Would not the slimmest possibility this Love is true warrant further investigation before drawing such a critical conclusion? Would it not warrant the same examination as one purchasing a home, buying a car or considering a new set of golf clubs? In light of the above verse, who seems to be playing out their evil motives behind the scenes upon such vulnerable hearts? Is it the Lord or the thief? God is good and his character does not change. He owes us nothing in this flawed world and each person on earth owes him everything. He made the way to save each person from the fall (John 3:16) and it is not a way among many but The Way (Acts 4:12). Jesus Christ is the only One who can lift us out of the deep dark hole. Question who is working behind the scenes when life ultimately robs you of love, joy and peace. Our message to the hurting world should be: “If you are willing, He is waiting. If you call, He will answer. Lay down your unfulfilled dreams, the damaged relationships, the debts that can’t be paid and give Him your life. Let the Potter have the clay. There is light beyond the darkness, peace beyond understanding, and joy beyond your sorrow.
Posted on: Wed, 02 Oct 2013 10:29:27 +0000
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