Standing in a Hole

In life there are times we find ourselves in a hole. You can call it depression or discouragement but it feels like a deep dark hole. I recently experienced one myself. I was thinking about these holes we find ourselves in from time to time and about how we get there. At times I have found myself standing in a hole that someone else dug and other times I am the one doing the digging. However either way I always have the choice to step out of or over the hole. So here are my thoughts!

Standing in a hole - is when we stand in a hole someone else digs...It could be someone who has hurt us by their actions or words. Maybe a friend betrayed you or a family member has severed relationship. I recently said that the way you can guarantee disappointment in relationships is to expect them to be perfect. Yet we do just that so we find ourselves in a hole dug by someone else. Another classic way to have someone dig a hole for you is to take on a third party offence or stick your nose into someone else’s problems... Whichever way you get there you are clearly standing in a hole and it is a tough place to be and a tough place to get out of.

Digging a hole - is when we dig our own hole through attitude or actions...from being angry to treating others badly, many times it comes from an insecurity or fear in our hearts. The battle of the mind rages on. It is so easy for us to talk ourselves into despair if we are not diligent in being positive and seeing from God’s perspective. The tough part is that sometimes we know we are digging but keep going because we feel like we blew it so somehow we deserve to be in the hole. So we keep digging and digging feeling sorry for ourselves. This is the hardest hole to dig out of.

Climbing out... The best way to climb out of a hole is to use a ladder...so picture a ladder with me for a moment. It is made up of two vertical sides and several horizontal rungs. The two sides are longer then the rungs and are foundational to the strength of the ladder. In our life the sides are like internal choices and the rungs like external actions. The sides of the ladder represent Faith and Trust. Faith and Trust come from within you, they are the choices you make based on the goodness and faithfulness of God so it is not emotional or affected by external circumstances. To climb out of a hole you need to have faith no matter how small, in Jesus, knowing that He only has His best in mind for you; that He has plans for you that are good. Trust can be difficult - especially when you cannot even trust yourself or when others have broken it. However, trusting God is very different because it is not based on your emotions or circumstances. It is totally based on His word and He has never broken His word, He has never failed you and in fact has already done everything needed for you to trust Him. When your faith and trust in God are strong you have a solid frame to lay the rungs on so you can begin to climb out of the hole.

There are many rungs you can put in, I suppose it would depend on how deep the hole is. Here are a few to get you started. Remember the rungs are external actions that come from the internal choice to walk in faith and trust in the Lord. Here are some rungs:

Forgiveness – is not accepting what was done but choosing to step out of it

Grace – is giving unmerited favour to someone who does not deserve it

Servanthood – is serving without expectation of reward

Generosity – is giving without measurement

As you can see each of these rungs are verbs. They are an action that you must actually choose to do. It is hard to stay in a hole dug by someone else when you forgive them and extend grace. It is hard to keep digging a hole when you are serving with generosity and love those who are stuck in their own. These choices are not easy and in the natural may be impossible but when surrounded by faith and trust they become strong and easier to do.

Of course the best way to get out of a hole is to not step in it in the first place...

Stepping over the hole is recognizing there is a problem in you or others and choosing to step over the hole - simply lay the ladder over top and walk across. This is living a lifestyle of faith and trust, living them out in Love and all the rungs mentioned here plus others. Sometimes the holes are covered up or disguised so we may not see them to step over, ie. a sudden death of family member. However, we can still step out of it with the ladder. Stepping over is not ignoring but recognizing it for what it is and choosing to step over anyway.

Mark Gordon has a strong gifting of encouragement combined with supernatural wisdom that makes him a great mentor and friend. Mark is in the midst of selling his home and all the "fun" that goes with it!