Lessons from Rock Bottom

Reading: Judges 6:1-6

Want to know a really uncomfortable truth I have come to realize over the last few years? Sometimes, I have to hit rock bottom before the Lord can get my attention. I’d like to say that I’m always perfectly in tune with what the Father is doing in my life but that would be a lie. All too often, I have vainly imagined that I was capable of doing things on my own or that I knew best. I’ve come to realize that when I think I have it all together or when my life feels like rainbows and unicorns, I get too big for my britches. I start putting my faith in myself, my resources and my plans. 

These moments of pride, more often than not, lead to my plans falling apart because I’ve strayed from God’s purpose for my life. Even if they are good things that I am chasing, if they aren’t from the Father, they aren’t for me. And if I’m really, truly, uncomfortably honest, there are times when I know that I’m sinning or that my faith is not placed in what it should be, which is why I’m ignoring God. This is when I meet rock bottom. 

Rock bottom doesn’t make you comfortable but it does give you perspective. As we look, in chapter 6 of Judges we find that, once again, the Israelites are doing evil. We are told how this leads to them being oppressed by their enemies. We are told how their plans failed miserably.  We are told how everything goes completely wrong. They have clearly hit rock bottom and then, we’re told they cry out to the Lord for help. This isn’t that shocking of a conclusion. It’s actually very on par for the Israelites and their behavior but it’s the first verse of the passage that gives me pause. “... and for seven years He gave them into the hands of the Midianites.” 

Seven years is a long time so I have to wonder… did it take them seven years to cry out for help? Seven years to recognize their sin? Seven years to turn back to God? Maybe you’re thinking that had you been openly sinning and were then attacked by your enemies and everything came crashing down on your head, you would have repented immediately. I’d like to think I’d do the same but let me tell you, if history is any judge, I’d act just like the Israelites. 

My pride and stubbornness have dragged me along the rockiest rocks of rock bottom for far longer than the Lord wanted me there because I wouldn’t look up. Muttering to myself the whole time that I would figure it out or that my problem wasn’t as bad as it seemed. Actually, I can think of one particular season of rock bottom living and I guess seven years isn’t that long… 

Today’s Prayer

Father, thank you for the rock bottoms that get my attention but thank you even more for not leaving me there. I’m sorry for the ways I choose pride and stubbornness over Your best. Help me to recognize Your voice.