Denise, 1998
I have waited, waited, for the Lord, and he stooped toward me and heard my cry. He drew me out of the pit of destruction, out of the mud of the swamp; he set my feet upon a crag; he made firm my steps. – Psalm 40:2-3
Many times I have felt that I was sinking into a swamp of confusion and indecision, sinking fast into a pit of personal disaster. It seemed that God had deserted me. My own efforts to rise up out of the morass only seemed to make matters worse, so like the psalmist, I waited.
And then the answer came, the required course of action became obvious and the energy to pursue it returned. From a vantage point of trust and faith, I could see my way again. My steps became quicker and more sure, and I seemed to be on steadier ground. Like the psalmist, I praised the Lord.
When I look back on my life, I can see the swamps and high places more clearly. I can recognize how carefully and surely the Lord was leading me: the trails to the high places were generous gifts, but even the swamps were places of learning and growth.
Lord, each time I see the trail grow dark and feel the earth less firm beneath my feet, help me to wait in humility and trust.
Published in A Treasury of Living Faith, Volume 3, Catholic Devotions For Every Day of the Year, Living Faith Publications, 1998