OUT OF THE MIRE

MESSAGE FROM THE ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Living in a time of post-pandemic, and while the walls that support us feel increasingly insufficient and even flawed, we, like Peter and David, may know and trust the call of our God to carry forward in His path, and yet waver.

The Bible mentions several instances when someone or something was sinking. When David was sinking into the “deep mire” of trials and discouragement, he called to God for help. When Peter was sinking in the waves of the sea, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” When their boat was sinking, the disciples turned to Jesus for help. They obviously looked to the right Deliverer because He rescued them all. There are times in every believer’s life when they feel as if they are “sinking,” and it will cause one to face every doubt imaginable. Just because you feel like you’re sinking, however, doesn’t mean you have sunk. During these moments, your focus makes all the difference. If you find yourself sinking in the spiritual quicksand of sin, trouble, or discouragement, no matter how deep, God is waiting to lift you up. Don’t sink, take His outstretched hand!

I sink in deep mire, where there is no standing; I have come into deep waters, where the floods overflow me. Psalms 69:2 NKJV

But as for me, my prayer is to You, O Lord, in the acceptable time; O God, in the multitude of Your mercy, hear me in the truth of Your salvation.

Deliver me out of the mire and let me not sink; let me be delivered from those that hate me, and out of the deep waters. Psalms 69:13-14 NKJV

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus and as we brace ourselves for another wave of post-pandemic for the new year, let us all look unto Jesus.

True believers are sometimes in deep mire and in fear of being swallowed up. This was the state and condition of the Psalmist when he wrote this psalm. He felt that he was sinking and could not deliver himself, and therefore he cries unto the Lord for strength in the words of the text, “Deliver me out of the mire and let me not sink.” If a man finds that his own strength fails, he can look up to Him who is an ever-present help in time of trouble and cry unto Him, “Deliver me out of the mire and let me not sink.” What do you need to see restored or delivered? Is it your job, your family, your health, your finances? Keep your attention on Him and what He promised us in His Word. Boldly claim RESTORATION because when something is restored, it is put back BETTER than it was before. God is in the business of giving grace to sinners. God is in the business of restoring the fallen. God is in the business of picking up the person who has even denied Him, who has shown himself to be weak, and putting him in a place of strength.

Here's a story illustration about how our lives can be changed or restored when we anchor our eyes to Jesus. A rich businessman died, and when he died, he had no heir. He auctioned everything that he had. There was one old lady who came into that auction, and she looked at a picture of that old man's son who had died at a young age. She bought the picture; she was the only person who showed interest in this picture. She went over, she hardly had clothes worthy to wear yet she went over and paid the money for that picture. She took it home… that woman had been the nanny for that child. Day after day she would look at that picture, she would ponder it, she would think about not the picture, but the person in the picture, she would think about him. One day as she was gazing at the face in the picture she saw a bulge, like a bubble. She took a razor blade, and she went over. There was something behind the canvas. She put a little cut, a nick, in the paper. Behind it there was a letter, she pulled the letter out and it was the man's missing will. It read that everything in his possession was to be given to the person who took time to ponder his son.

and Finisher of our faith and believe that He can restore us. He can deliver us out of the mire, and we will not sink.

As we commemorate the birth of Jesus and as we brace ourselves for another wave of post-pandemic for the new year, let us all look unto Jesus. Let us ponder on the Author

Lord, we praise You for the many ways You comfort and guide us. In our moments of fear, You speak to us with words of reassurance. In our moments of doubt, You reach out Your hand to save us. In our moments of turmoil, You bring calm to the storm.

We place our trust in You today and every day, and worship You in the name of Jesus, our Redeemer, our Saviour, our Lord, and our Friend. Amen.

Nanette Quines, Associate Editor