Psalms 40:1-3 NIV — 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 the Lord and put their trust in him.
As I shared yesterday, being stuck may mean remaining in a place, situation, or environment. Have you ever felt that way in your work environment? I found myself feeling stuck in my work as a Kindergarten teacher several years ago. Kindergarten is often a child’s first encounter with formal schooling and can prove to be difficult for some students to adapt. I had not one, but five, troubled students. Each of the students had a unique learning style, personality, and difficulty with following the rules and routines of a classroom. I had always believed God placed just the right students in my classroom each year. Either they needed me or I needed them. As the year progressed and we struggled together, I became very discouraged as I felt I was not reaching each of them. Perhaps I was not what they needed. Each day was filled with stress and worry of how to handle the situation. I felt myself slipping into a state of sadness. I felt like a failure. I felt stuck.
Then I happened upon today’s featured scripture, Psalms 40:1-3. I began to cling to the promise that God would lift me up and put a new song in my mouth, even when I couldn’t see an end to the struggle. I put my trust in Him. As the school year progressed, I developed a beautiful bond with the mother of one of the troubled students. She and I communicated daily and worked together to help regulate her child’s medication. We shared insights and strategies with one another and slowly the student grew closer and closer to me. Although his behavior had improved, his academics were failing as it had taken the majority of the school year to help him adapt to the school environment and to adjust his medication. The decision was made to retain him and after prayerful consideration I offered to have him in my class a second year so as to make his transition smoother. He and I had learned each other’s personalities and knew which buttons to not push. What a blessing it was to have him in my class a second year. I was able to watch him blossom into a successful and confident student. Clinging to scripture and trusting God had gotten me unstuck! God had lifted me out of the slimy pit and put a new song in my mouth.
Let’s pray. Dear God, I praise You for the Scriptures that share Your promises. Thank You for always lifting me out of pits. May I always put my trust in You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
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