Rock Bottom: The View From Underneath

**Giving credit to whom credit is due, this post was taken from schmikey at Bible.org forum.

Has there ever been a time when you've hit bottom? It is not a joyful situation to be in. It feels as if someone has pulled the rug from under you. There's a feeling as if all hope has fallen away. When you hit rock bottom, you might feel as if you couldn't sink any lower. You might wonder what it would take for you to get back on your feet.

Yet, when you do hit rock bottom, don't stay there. Don't feel defeated and beaten down. Get up, and stand again. Have both faith and hope. There is One who is able to raise you up, when you hit bottom.

WHEN YOU SINK LOW

There are circumstances in life that can floor a person. These circumstances can catch a person off guard. These are things that aren't planned for, nor expected. When they do happen, there's a feeling that it's all over. All is lost. It could be an illness, the loss of employment, or financial struggles. It could be a broken relationship, or a sudden death. Whatever it might be, it can floor a person. For some people, an addiction might cause them to hit rock bottom. This happens to the alcoholic. This happens when the alcohol stops working, and life is in shambles and broken. That is hitting rock bottom.

How do people react when life hits rock bottom? Some people are able to summon all their faith and will power. They are able to bounce back from the setbacks. Some people are not so fortunate. There are those who hit rock bottom, who are unable to come out if it. They need help and encouragement. Sometimes it never comes, or it comes too late. Sometimes when a person hits rock bottom, there's either total despair, or death. When we hit rock bottom, how can we be raised up again? THE ONE WHO RAISES US UP.
There is a blessing when we've been knocked on our backs. It causes us to look up. When we've been knocked on our backs, there's no other place to look. When we look up, what do we see? We see the One who is able to raise us up. When we've been knocked on our backs, we look up to Christ.

From the cross, Jesus reaches down to us. With faith, we take hold of His hand. He stands us up on our feet again. He pulls us out of the pit. We can say of the Lord, "Yet, you have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord, my God."(Jonah 2:6) He picks us up, and restores us. In His mercy, He causes us to stand.

Christ, through His death and resurrection, reached down, and pulled us up from the curse of sin, death, and the devil. These had brought us low. But by His grace, He lifted us up. Through faith, we take His hand, and we take hold of all of the gifts that He has won for us. Through faith, our soul has been restored.(Psalm 23:3) Daily, Christ, lifts us up, through His Word and Spirit. He lifts us up through the offering of Himself. He offers of Himself in Holy Communion. Here, He feeds and nourishes us. He is present, and through faith, He forgives our sins, and renews our spirit. He picks us up, and gives us strength for the journey. DON'T STAY DOWN. GET UP
There will be times when situations will knock you down and beat you up. Don't wallow in misery or self pity. In faith, take hold of Christ. Get up, brush the dust off. Hold on to Christ, and get on with the journey. When you've hit bottom, don't stay there. Look in faith to Christ. He can raise you up, when you hit bottom.

It is better for hard words to be on paper than carry them in your heart

"I simply can't build my hopes on a foundation of confusion, misery and death... I think... peace and tranquility will return again." Anne Frank

Life is full of surprises. Some are jubilant and warm your soul; others are bitter and bring you down. It is dubious that we always have a say in the way life turns out, yet it would be ingenuous to think that God always wants to be in control. Setting apocryphal sentiments aside, I am not sure which idea to accept. To me, they exuberate similar levels of appeal for we live in uncertain times. The memory of the 9-11 attacks are just an apropos reminder of how spoiled this nation has lived - protected, unsuspected of the real world. We choose to live in a false reality that "everything is going to be okay". We choose to live in a world where if we just believe, then there's nothing to worry about. Amidst the false hopes of a mythical American Dream, no more existent today than in other capitalist nations, we wait hopeful for deliverance of evil and for a better tomorrow.

It is difficult to find a sliver of happiness from those forgotten by society. Drug abusers, children from broken homes, mentally challenged, and illegal immigrants. God only knows why bad things happen to good people. That, of course, is the million dollar question. So what is our role in life? Aren't all of us called to pursue and find happiness? Why won't God create conditions for all of us to enjoy life?

Yet I do remain hopeful. Prayerful that one day we can all let a sigh of relief fully trusting without fear in the promises God has given us. Let's not grow weary of what tomorrow brings, or be scared of difficulty, for only those who have witnessed God's work can truly believe that a better tomorrow will come. I am not scared of being alone. I am not scared of sickness, pain, suffering or even death. I am scared of losing hope, because without it there is nothing to live for.

This is my prayer,

God. Let us not be afraid of what it is to come. Let us press on forward, fully trusting in your sovereignty and might. Lord, never abandon us, never let us go. We long for you... for the hope you give us to live one more day. And though our days are short, like mere handbreaths, allow us to live a good life. Fervently we pray, to show us what we don't see. To break our hearts and for our path to be shown clearly. If it is your will, allow us to rejoice... and eat... and sing... and dance... and love. And even if those things don't come to pass, give us a heart to be grateful even in the face of despair. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

Psalm 23

A psalm of David. ¹ The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
 ² He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
 ³ he refreshes my soul.
He guides me along the right paths
   for his name’s sake.
⁴ Even though I walk
   through the darkest valley,^[a]
I will fear no evil,
   for you are with me;
your rod and your staff,
   they comfort me.
 ⁵ You prepare a table before me
   in the presence of my enemies.
You anoint my head with oil;
   my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely your goodness and love will follow me
   all the days of my life,
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD
   forever.

Why is this happening to me?

LORD, you are the God who saves me; day and night I cry out to you. May my prayer come before you;  turn your ear to my cry.

I am overwhelmed with troubles and my life draws near to death. I am counted among those who go down to the pit; I am like one without strength. I am set apart with the dead, like the slain who lie in the grave, whom you remember no more, who are cut off from your care. You have put me in the lowest pit, in the darkest depths. Your wrath lies heavily on me; you have overwhelmed me with all your waves. You have taken from me my closest friends and have made me repulsive to them. I am confined and cannot escape; my eyes are dim with grief. I call to you, LORD, every day; I spread out my hands to you. Do you show your wonders to the dead? Do their spirits rise up and praise you? Is your love declared in the grave, your faithfulness in Destruction[e]? Are your wonders known in the place of darkness, or your righteous deeds in the land of oblivion?

But I cry to you for help, LORD; in the morning my prayer comes before you. Why, LORD, do you reject me and hide your face from me? From my youth I have suffered and been close to death; I have borne your terrors and am in despair. Your wrath has swept over me; your terrors have destroyed me. All day long they surround me like a flood; they have completely engulfed me. You have taken from me friend and neighbor—darkness is my closest friend. - Psalm 88