Blogging with Father John

Surviving in the Pit of despair

The prophet Jeremiah, refusing to stop prophesying God’s words to his people, found himself mercilessly thrown into a muddy and dark pit by the ruler of his day. Jeremiah defiantly said he would prefer to remain in that pit of despair rather than disobey his God. But I am certain that he wasn't happy about his situation. Yet he remained faithful despite life’s uncontrollable challenges.

How often do we find ourselves in that same muddy pit of despair of hopelessness? It’s an awful place to exist, despite our faith and hope in God. For some of us who have no faith or perhaps struggle to keep it, life becomes an even darker hell. Deep pits of despair are unfortunately a part of life. Without hope and the faithful assurance in a Power greater than ourselves, we feel perpetually stuck in the rancid mire, and utter darkness of that insurmountable hole.  

Life is full of pits and deep holes that we inevitably find ourselves stumbling and falling into, sometimes on a regular basis. Unlike Jeremiah however, whether circumstances in our personal lives landed us there, or someones actions pushed us there, its important to remember we don’t have remain there. The choice is ours.

I personally know that dark, dank and slimy pit all too well. Over the past several years my life has been a train wreck of one pitfall after another.  I actually got to the point where I even lost my faith in God, the church and humanity in general. The pit I found myself in was all to real, and escape seemed impossible and completely hopeless. I even asked myself, “What’s the point of even living anymore if this hopelessness and despair is all I have to wake up to each day?” It was and still is a dark time in my life, but renewed faith has begun to bring a shimmer of hope and a glimmer of light. I cling to that slight hope with a vice grip like hold. It’s all I have to keep me going each and everyday. 

Yet I know, as  well as so many others, that there is a way out of that pit of despair. It’s called selflessness. Getting outside oneself and helping others. There is a spiritual strength that comes from thinking less of ourself and our own problems, and turning our attention to others who suffer and are in desperate need of help. Selflessness frees us spiritually from the bondage of self, and the pit that we often find ourselves not so much stuck in, rather more like wallowing in our self-consumed sorrow and despair. Thinking of ourselves less makes more space for God to exist within us. 

The Apostle Paul wrote, “If God is for us, who can be against us.” In other words, life is life. It shows up and there is little we can do to control whatever turmoil it may bring. Yet if God is with us, there is always sure and certain hope, as well as a spiritual freedom, despite our circumstances. Our spiritual connection to God and willingness to let go of self is the rope that will pull us out of life’s pits of despair and desperation. Thus, remaining in that wretched pit becomes optional.