We recently returned home from a two-week trip. It rained here quite a bit while we were gone. And it has rained 3 of the 4 days that we have been home. I am not complaining, because we see this as a blessing from God in these parts, and will take the rain when it comes.

I have learned that when it rains this much all at once, there are certain parts of my property that I stay away from. The clay in our soil makes a mud that cakes on to the bottom of your shoes, and you can be several inches taller when you get back to the house. Not only that, when it reaches the saturation point, it becomes a gooey mush that you will sink into. When you try to pick of your foot, your boot or shoe will very likely stay behind in the muck. Yes, I am speaking from experience.

Early this morning, when I remembered that happening to me, I was reminded of the words of Psalm 40.

Psalm 40:1–4 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. Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud, to those who turn aside to false gods.

There are too many times in our lives when we wander away from God’s will for us and find ourselves stuck in the muck and mire of our bad decisions. We think there is no escape, no way out. And on our own, that may be true.

However, those of us who have been led to faith, we who know that Jesus is our Savior, have a way out. We cry to the Lord for help, knowing He is with us and hears us. The difficult part is waiting patiently, but we know that He will answer in a way that is best for us. He is all about restoring us, rescuing us, setting our feet on the firm foundation we need. Jesus came to save us. He paid the penalty our sins demanded, conquered death for us and opened heaven for us. He came so that we could have life and have it to the full (John 10:10).

Our response to our rescue from sin and the times He pulls us up out of the mud should be the same:  Singing the praises of our God and letting others hear us do it!  In that way, they may also come to know and believe that Jesus is their Savior, too.