Stuck In The Mud

As a child, I can remember the fun of standing on a beach, fascinated by the movement of the incoming waves washing sand over my feet, steadily covering them as I sank up to my ankles. I remember the feeling of getting gradually stuck … but I always just managed to move before that actually happened.

A number of years ago, we helped our son David as he was surveying some sand dunes on the East Yorkshire coast. I was standing, holding a surveying pole, on what originally looked like firm sand but turned out to be softish, oozy mud. After a while, I realised that I was sinking, and the more I struggled to move, the more my feet were getting deeper and more deeply stuck in the mud, until I was totally immobile, immovable, the mud encroaching over the tops of my wellies. What did I do?

Fortunately, David was nearby and was standing on a slightly more firm area of mud. Reaching out to him, our fingers could only just touch. Then, with great effort, we managed to grasp hold of each other’s hands and slowly David began to pull me free. Gradually, my feet sluggishly but progressively were loosened in the mud and after what seemed like a long time, I was slipping and sliding onto firm ground.

Often in our lives, personally and nationally, we get into similar predicaments. What starts out as a bit of fun, bringing pleasure, or even a tolerable inconvenience, gradually and imperceptibly draws us in until we are stuck, maybe addicted, or controlled by outside forces from which we cannot extricate ourselves.

Perhaps you can think of times when this has happened or is happening to you? What can you do?

The Lord God Almighty says, “Call upon Me in the day of trouble; and I will deliver you”

When we reach that point of helplessness and hopelessness, stuck in a hole, there is only one place to go, there is only one Person Who can help … the Lord God Himself Who loves us so much and is waiting for us to call. Sadly, and very unfortunately, our pride very often inhibits us crying out for help.

We think we can do it … we struggle on our own … and get more firmly stuck in trouble

In God’s Word, the Bible, and throughout history, there are countless examples of men and women who have been deeply stuck in troublesome situations, some caused by themselves by their own actions and sinfulness, but sometimes they were stuck in situations for which they had no responsibility.

They proved God’s Word is true … 

… realising they could do nothing … they humbled themselves and cried out to the Lord for help

In God’s Word, we read of King David who was in such a situation, and this is his testimony in Psalm 40:

I waited patiently for the Lord;
    He turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
    out of the mud and mire;
He set my feet on a rock
    and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth,
    a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear 
    and put their trust in the Lord.

How wonderful is that?  Where are you today?

    … are you helplessly stuck in the mud?   … or hopelessly stuck in a hole?

         … or are you standing safely and securely on the Rock, on our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ?

 

Ron Brickman

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