January 15
Finding Hope
in the Waiting
“I was patient while I waited for the Lord.
He turned to me and heard my cry for help.
He lifted me out of the muddy pit.
He took me out of the mud and dirt.
He set my feet on a rock.
He gave me a firm place to stand.
He gave me a new song to sing.
It is a hymn of praise to our God.
Many people will see and have respect for the Lord.
They will put their trust in him.”
Psalm 40:1-3 (NIrV)
Tasha stared at the stacks of paperwork on her dining room table: divorce forms, bills, and a long list of things that needed her attention. The house, now eerily quiet, reminded her of what she had lost—a life she thought would last forever.
She felt like her world had collapsed into a muddy pit, just like the psalm described. The nights were the hardest, as loneliness crept in and whispered, “You’re not enough. You failed.”
One evening, after tucking her two young boys into bed, Tasha sat on the edge of her own and broke down. “God, I don’t know how to move forward,” she whispered through tears. “I feel so stuck, so broken. Please help me.”
Weeks passed, and though nothing changed overnight, Tasha began to notice small shifts. A friend from church dropped off meals, and another offered to babysit so she could take time to think and pray. Slowly, she found herself reaching for her Bible in the mornings, even when her heart felt heavy.
One day, while reading Psalm 40, Tasha felt as if the words had been written just for her. “He lifted me out of the muddy pit.” She closed her eyes and imagined God reaching down to pull her out of the despair she had felt for so long.
The following Sunday, Tasha decided to attend church for the first time since her separation. During the service, the worship team sang about God’s faithfulness, and for the first time, Tasha found herself singing along, feeling a spark of hope.
It wasn’t easy, but over time, Tasha started to sense God giving her a new song—a song of gratitude for her children, her friends, and the small ways He was providing for her. She still had difficult days, but she knew she wasn’t alone. God was her firm foundation, lifting her from the mud and giving her strength to keep going.
Prayer:
Lord, thank You for hearing our cries, even when we feel stuck in the mud of life’s hardships.
Like Tasha, help us to trust You to lift us out of our pain and set our feet on solid ground.
Teach us to wait patiently for You, knowing that You are faithful to answer.
Give us new songs to sing, even in the midst of our struggles, and remind us that we are never alone.
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
