Stuck in the Swamp

“He lifted me out of the mud and set my feet on solid ground.” — from Psalm 40

Christian hurried across the field toward the shining light. But he wasn’t watching where he stepped — and suddenly, splash! — he tumbled straight into a deep, muddy bog.

This was no ordinary puddle. It had a name: the Slough of Despond, which means the Swamp of Feeling Hopeless. The more Christian struggled, the deeper he sank, because that heavy burden on his back pulled him down into the mud.

A neighbour named Pliable had been following him. But when Pliable got splattered with mud, he grumbled, crawled out on the near side, and stomped off home. Poor Christian was left alone, sinking, trying and trying to reach the far side.

Then a man came along. His name was Help. “What are you doing down there?” he asked. And he reached out and said, “Give me your hand.” He pulled Christian right out of the bog and set him on good, solid ground again.

Sometimes, when we first start following God, we hit a patch where everything feels hopeless and heavy, and we start to sink. That’s normal. It happened even to Christian. But we are not meant to climb out all by ourselves.

When you feel like you’re sinking, do what Christian did — reach for the hand that’s reaching for you. God sends help.

Dear God, when I feel stuck and hopeless, thank you that you reach out your hand. Help me to take hold of it. Amen.