Stuck In the Mud

Have you ever felt like you were stuck in mud, trapped never being able to escape? For many of us this is a metaphor; however, for Nick Seagrave it was a reality. Sinking ever so deeply into mud, no way to escape. Just then he saw a "gentle rider" on horseback. Who was the gentle rider?

We all have these situations -- ones that we feel we can't escape. The fact of the matter is we can't, at least, not on our own. However, when the gentle rider comes along, we can get out of these situations.

We can try to flail our arms about, strecthing beyond our limits to reach the branch that seems to elude our grasp no matter how hard we try. We can squirm and twist, thinking that somehow that might help, but the reality is that we cannot escape the mud on our own.

As the mud creeped up around Nick's neck, he cried out to the Gentle Rider. "What can I do?!?" To which the Gentle Rider replied, "You're not using all you have to get out."

One last feeble and meaningless attempt to elude the clutch of the mud. No success.

"What else do I have?" cried Nick. "You have not asked me to help you," said the Gentle Rider.

Why in our weakest moments do we fail to call out to the Gentle Rider? Why are we so stubborn to recognize our weaknesses?

Pray for enlightenment to your weaknesses. Ask Him to point them out. When you realize them, cry out!

Cry out to Him for help! He is here to rescue us from the mud. He is here to lend a hand. Don't fail to ask Him for the aid we so desperately need and long for.

Seeing

When recently diving into the depths of myself for my weaknesses, I came across one that made me question my reaction to my brothers around me.

I have recognized that I continue to see people from a worldly perspective.

Have you ever seen that guy on the street with about a hundred tatoos, piercings everywhere the eye can see (and probably some where it cannot), clothed in black, fashioning skulls throughout his wardrobe? I am sure that you have.

Now, what is your immediate reaction to this man? Well, for me, it is usually a cowering -- maybe even a quick dash across the street to avoid contact. It sounds horrible, I know, you do not have to tell me. However, this is not the reaction we are called to have. Being a new creation in Christ requires that we no longer see anyone from a "worldly point of view" (2 Cor. 5:16).

So, what should I see when I look at this person? Certainly not a "goth", but more as one of God's dearly loved children, just as I am. He and I have the same great Father; why do I dismiss him as a brother? Not only do I do that, but I do it without even knowing him. I can certainly recognize myself doing this with those whom I know as well.

This is just a beginning to me probing into my life and examining my weaknesses. I pray that you can examine your lives, no, not just the good, but also the bad and the ugly. See where you are weak. Cry out to God! Pray for guidance. I am asking God to direct me in my relationships with those around me that I might be able to neglect any worldly point of views, but see others as God sees them.

"For when I am weak, then I am strong." (2 Cor. 12:10)