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.
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