Rescued Out of the Pit of Addiction: Finding Hope and Recovery in Psalm 40

Welcome to the Recovered Christian Podcast. This is Suzanne, and today I'm talking about one of my very favorite Psalms. The first verses of Psalm 40 really helped me in the early days of my recovery. I needed to know God was there, waiting to help and ready to rescue, and I desperately needed to know I had a future ahead of me, a journey from despair to deliverance. This is Psalm 40, verses 1 through 5. I waited patiently for the Lord to help me and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the Lord. Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord, who have no confidence in the proud or in those who worship idols. Oh Lord, my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them when you are in the depths of addiction. When the suffocating grasp of despair feels unyielding, it's natural to feel isolated, forgotten and alone. In my life, those dark years of struggle were the worst, the loneliest of my whole life. Each day was filled with hiding and sickness and desperation, only to repeat the next day. It's an unending cycle of misery and it can feel like it will never end and there is no way out. But spoiler alert it can end and there is a way out, and I am living proof of that. In Psalm 40, there is hope. David wrote this Psalm. He spent much of his life in danger, on the run, battling enemies. There were times when he probably felt life was hopeless and there was not ever going to be a happy outcome. In those times, david cried out to God for help. There are lots of Psalms full of David's cries for help. He cries out and God answers. Psalm 40 is a reminder that even in our most desperate moments, god is not deaf to our cries. He hears, he cares and he rescues. He heard David, he heard me and he will hear you. Our sweet Father lifts us up out of the pit of despair, out of the mud we are stuck in with no hope of escaping and he sets us on solid ground. But he doesn't leave us there to fend for ourselves. He's still there, steadying us as we walk along. He stays with us always. Even when things are good and life is happy, we still need a steadying arm, keeping us going and leading us on the right path. I know I do. That pit of despair is still there. God will lead us away from it every day, every minute, if we need Him to. David speaks of patiently waiting. Waiting not in idle desperation, but in a hope rooted in faith. It's a waiting that acknowledges our need for the Father's intervention, understanding that our own efforts often fall short in breaking the chains of addiction. I couldn't do it alone. Honestly, I don't even know how to get started. It just seemed impossible. But God knew and he interceded for me. But God's rescue isn't a handout. It's a complete overhaul. He doesn't patch up our troubles temporarily. He fundamentally alters our foundation. He completely restores and recovers our lives. He picks us up and sets us on the firm foundation. That is the rescue God offers. And it's not just a rescue, it's a transformation, a healing, a restoration that bursts a new song within us, a melody of praise and thanksgiving, how grateful I am that he saved me. He lifted me up out of that pit of addiction. He held me safe and gave me a brand new life. And here's the most wondrous thing this song isn't just for me or for us, it's for everyone. It's a glorious song that draws others to witness God's miraculous work, compelling them to trust in Him too. I just love verse 5. Here it is again. Oh Lord, my God, you have performed many wonders for us. Your plans for us are too numerous to list. You have no equal. If I tried to recite all your wonderful deeds, I would never come to the end of them. Let's think about that. He has performed wonders for us, for us, for me, for you. Wonders. His plans for us are too numerous to list. Good plans, happy plans, plans full of life and fun plans to delight us. God loves to delight us. I tell Him that all the time delight me. Today, father, when you love and honor Him in your life and keep your focus on Him, he will delight you beyond your wildest dreams. The Father has no equal. If we tried to recite all His wonderful deeds, we would never come to the end of them. Isn't that amazing? There's no end to what he will do for us, and yet we don't let Him. It breaks my heart to think of all the years I spent in bondage when I could have had Him working His wonderful deeds in my life. It breaks my heart to think of all the people still doing that. Has God performed any wonders in your life? Have you been recovered from the pit or are you still down in there? Are you walking the right road with God by your side, or are you still stuck in the mud, hopeless and helpless? If you're still in the mud, you don't have to stay there. Ask God for help. Surrender your will and your life to Him. Lay it all down. Acknowledge that you cannot do it on your own. Reach out and grab His hand With all your heart. Reach out. He will take it. He will. There's a new life waiting for you and he will walk beside you every step of the way. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, I come to you today with a humble and grateful heart. When I was in the depth of the pit, you heard my cry. You reached into the depth and pulled me into your light, and today I stand in awe of your unwavering love that lifted me from despair and set me onto the path of redemption. I pray you do that for everyone still there, every heart begging you for help. Reach out, father, and pull them out. Set them free and never leave their sides. May our lives reflect your wonders, a living testimony to your faithfulness. Help us to find joy in trusting you alone, regardless of the circumstances that surround us. Keep us strong, keep us healthy and keep us focused on you In Jesus' name. Amen. As you navigate today, cling to the assurance that God hears your cries in the depths of your struggles. Embrace patience, for in the waiting there is the cultivation of trust in his perfect timing. Surrender your burdens to him, knowing that his rescue isn't just a quick fix. It's a profound transformation that leads to a new song of praise and a new life. Trust in the Lord, find joy in his unwavering love and let your life become a living testament to his redeeming power. You are not alone in this journey. May his wondrous works fill your life today and always. I'll see you next time. Thank you so much for listening. I hope your bite-sized devotion today was very satisfying. If you enjoyed this episode, I'd be honored if you'd leave a review or a rating. We are new, so every little bit helps me bring the word to the world. I'd love to get to know you better at our Facebook group, the Recovered Christian. I'll put a link to it in the show notes. So thanks again for being here and I will see you next time.