Getting Out of the Pit

I have been praying for a woman I've never met who is in a pit with overwhelming circumstances in her life. She's a friend and mentor of my long-time friend, former roommate, and travel companion extrodinaire, Pauline. As I thought through all the things she's facing, and her struggle with hope, I was reminded of where I was a few years ago and began to think through just how God got me out of that to where I am now.

I was completely broke. I'd just lost my job and was desperate enought that I had to go to my church to ask for money to pay my rent. I had already been buried under the weight of seemingly never-ending depression and my financial struggles just added to that. I had one car die, and then another with no money for even moderate repairs. I was also struggling with being a single woman and the fear that God would never intervene.

It's interesting to me to kind of look through how God has brought me to where I am now--a place of mental health and financial stability with amazing friends, a new career, and a bushel of hope. How did God do it? One little step at a time. The change didn't happen overnight, and it's still ongoing. I'm not yet on completely solid footing, but I'm a far cry from where I used to be.

First, I was given a car. Then one freelance writing job. Then another more permanent communications job. Then a dramatic move (as the result of an uprooted 100-year-old oak tree crashing through the roof) that put me in an emotionally healthier and more affordable living situation. Then a more challenging, better paying writing job. Then a financial awakening via Dave Ramsey that led to being debt free and putting away six-months worth of expenses in an emergency fund. (Oh the freedom!) Then God set me free from depression--which is a topic for a thousand more blog posts. And then a surprising nine-month relationship that would further destroy countless numbers of long-held false beliefs.

God has redeemed my life from the pit. And as I continue to pray for Pauline's friend, I pray with confidence knowing that though the road is long, God can do it for her too.