Life has a way of pulling us into the mud. At one time or another, every person finds themselves sinking into a pit – sometimes of their own making, sometimes through no fault of their own. It could be the weight of addiction, the burden of guilt, the exhaustion of trying to measure up, or the deep sorrow of broken relationships.
The muddy clay of sin, shame and despair clings to us, making every step forward more difficult. Jesus wants to pull us from the mud. Will we allow Him to do it this year during Lent?
David, in Psalm 40, speaks for all of us when he cries out: “I wait for the Lord, who bends down to me and hears my cry, draws me up from the pit of destruction, out of the muddy clay, sets my feet upon rock, steadies my steps, and puts a new song in my mouth, a hymn to our God.” These words paint a vivid picture of God’s saving power.
David doesn’t describe a simple misstep or a momentary stumble – he speaks of being trapped in destruction, of sinking into a mire he cannot escape from on his own. This is the reality of sin.
Once caught, the more we fight to free ourselves, the deeper we sink.
Anyone who has struggled with sin or addiction knows this feeling well. We try to change. We promise ourselves and others that we will do better. We make commitments, only to break them.
The harder we fight in our own strength, the deeper the entanglement seems to become. It is at this moment – when we realize we cannot save ourselves – that the cry of Psalm 40 becomes our own: “Lord, help me! I am stuck, and I cannot free myself!”
Christ reaches into the muck
But here is the good news: We are not alone in the mud. Jesus Christ bends down, hears our cries and pulls us out. Jesus steps into the muck of our lives to rescue us with His own hands.
The very essence of the Gospel is this: that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (Romans 5:8). He did not wait for us to clean ourselves up first. He did not demand that we prove our worth. He saw us stuck in the mud, unable to escape, and He reached down to save us.
During Lent, we are reminded of our own frailty and need for rescue. Lent reminds us that we are dust and to dust we shall return. Left to ourselves, we are helpless – stuck in the mud of sin.
But Lent is not just a season of sorrow; it is a season of hope. It is a time to cry out to God and to trust that He alone can pull us from the pit.
Lent is not so much about trying to fix ourselves, it’s a time of surrender – recognizing that we cannot rescue ourselves and turning to the One who can.
Jesus does more than just lift us out of the pit. He sets our feet on solid rock – on Himself, the firm foundation. As David declares, “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn to our God.” This is the song of redemption, the song of one who has been saved, restored and given new life.
Cry out to the one who saves
Perhaps you find yourself in the mud today. Maybe you have tried to free yourself, only to find that your struggles have made things worse. Take heart – there is One who can rescue you. Cry out to Jesus, and He will answer. He is not distant; He is near. He hears your cry, and He is mighty to save.
Let’s not place our trust in those who offer false hope. The world will provide temporary solutions – self-help techniques, quick fixes, empty promises – but none of these can truly pull us from the pit. Only Jesus can lift us up.
As we begin our Lenten journey, we should consider what weighs us down. What sins, addictions or struggles have trapped us? Lent is a time to let go of false securities and place our trust fully in Christ. Through prayer, fasting and almsgiving, we detach from the things that pull us into the mud and turn our hearts toward the One who saves.
Jesus is not afraid of our mess. He specializes in rescuing us when we are trapped. No matter how deep the pit, no matter how thick the mud, His arms are strong enough to lift us out.
Let’s make this Lent a time of surrender, a time of trust and, ultimately, a time of rescue. For the One who pulled David from the mud is the same One who will pull us up, cleanse us and give us new life. We must turn to Him today and begin the journey toward Easter with hope.
Brian Pusateri, a Christian author and speaker, founded 4th Day Letters and Broken Door Ministries. This is condensed from an essay published at www.brokendoorministries.com.