The Writing is on the Wall

PSALM 40:1- 5

I waited and waited and waited some more, patiently, knowing God would come through for me. Then, at last, he bent down and listened to my cry. He stooped down to lift me out of danger from the desolate pit I was in, out of the muddy mess I had fallen into. Now he’s lifted me up into a firm, secure place and steadied me while I walk along his ascending path. A new song for a new day rises up in me every time I think about how he breaks through for me! Ecstatic praise pours out of my mouth until everyone hears how God has set me free. Many will see his miracles; they’ll stand in awe of God and fall in love with him! Blessing after blessing comes to those who love and trust the Lord. They will not fall away, for they refuse to listen to the lies of the proud. O Lord, our God, no one can compare with you. Such wonderful works and miracles are all found with you! And you think of us all the time with your countless expressions of love— far exceeding our expectations!

Have you ever felt like you were in a personal pit? That place that feels like the “dark night of the soul”, the place where you feel all alone and that no one on this earth understand you? I know there is a pit because I have been there. Most of us don’t like to talk about the stresses in life and end up trying to survive the pit alone.

I recently heard a physician say that 50 percent of hospital patients don’t have physical problems, they just have physical symptoms. Stress and emotional problems will manifest in physical symptoms. Panic attacks, pain, depression, suicidal thoughts etc.

Even as believers there are times when it seems like you can’t even feel the presence of God anywhere. It is as though you have been deserted. It is as if you are in in the pit of despair. A few years ago I walked through a season of grief and discouragement after some of my heroes of faith and greatest supporters went home to be with Jesus. I felt like I was lost, that my prayers didn’t get answered, and that maybe I didn’t have enough faith. I felt alone, drained, and numb at times. I was in the pit...

But while I was in the pit I discovered many had been down there before me because there was some writing on the walls of the pit. As I began to look at the writing on the pit walls, I read these words:

“There is a balm in Gilead. I was up to my neck in deep crap but God sent Ebid Melech to pull me out of the pit.”

Signed: Jeremiah.

“The lion sleeps tonight.

P. S. The lions don’t bite.”

Signed: Daniel

“I lost my coat twice: my brothers got it and Potiphers wife got it. They got my coat but they didn’t get my dream and one day I am coming up out of here and I am going from the pit to the palace!”

Signed: Joseph

“Expect twice as much as you had before because I know my redeemer lives.”

Signed: Job

“Don’t worry about a thing, the fish will spit you up and you will do the will of God just as He said!”

Signed: Jonah

“Jail house rock: There is a whole lot of shaking going on.

P. S. shake it off.”

Signed: Paul

“I will run through a troop and I will leap over a wall, the bigger they come the harder they fall.”

Signed: David

“I am He that lives and was dead and I am alive forever more, and I have the keys.”

Signed: Jesus Christ of Nazareth.

I suddenly began to discover that I was not the first one to go down to the pit.

David, Jesus, Jonah, Jeremiah, Joseph, Daniel, Paul, they all had been there before me.

As I read the writing on the wall, I began to get encouraged, God has given me a dream. My dreams motivate me. This is something I have on the inside of me and the enemy can’t take it from me.

The Devil wants to steal your dreams and put someone in your face to say you don’t have what it takes, it will never happen, just go home, you failed, just quit. He wants somebody to stare you down and take your dreams from you, and if the devil could get my dream he would have me.

Some of you are in the pit and devil is trying to take your dreams from you. Don’t allow it. Talk about your dreams and keep looking up. Read the writing on the wall of the pit from those who have gone there before you and while you are on your way out take a moment to write your story on the wall of the pit like I just did:

“The fruit of His faithfulness is always greater than the pain of my process!”

David Wagner

I hope this blesses you!

In the Fathers Love,

David