Don’t Eat Your Way Out Of The Pit

Have you ever been in a pit? Yesterday, I was. And you know what pits make me feel besides frustrated and down? Hungry.

Usually my pit comes when circumstances roll into my life that I can’t control. Circumstances that are beyond my control make me want to find comfort in things I can control. And eating sure does feel like an easy way to get comfort.

But in these situations, what feels comforting going into my mouth often doesn’t settle well with my heart.

Overindulging in junk food makes me feel guilty. And once guilt joins me in my pit, it only compounds my issues. So, if we can’t eat our way out of a pit with junk food, what can we do?

If I’m truly hungry, I grab a healthy option. Then, I intentionally look for something for which to be thankful and get my mouth busy praising God.

Even though I may not feel like praising God in the midst of my pit, something starts to shift in my heart and in my attitude when I see blessings in the midst of burdens. Each thing for which I verbalize my thankfulness is like a stepping-stone out of the pit.

And this isn’t just my idea. It’s biblical. Look what happened when Daniel took this approach to the pit he found himself in.

Daniel had just learned that anyone caught praying to any god besides King Darius would be thrown into the lions’ den. That’s a serious pit! But Daniel’s reaction is amazing.

He went home, threw open his windows, and prayed anyway. I’m not thinking he did this because he felt good. I’m imagining he felt like anyone would feel in overwhelming circumstances. But he rose above his feelings to make a courageous choice.

And do you know what he chose to pray?

“God, save me!”

“God, it’s not fair!”

“God, this is too much!”

“God, smite my enemies and wipe them out!”

“God, you know I can’t handle this without extreme doses of chocolate!”

No. None of the above.

What Daniel prayed is a powerful lesson for me.

Daniel prayed, Thank You, God. “Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before” (Daniel 6:10b).

Since Daniel’s response is so opposite of the way most of us would react, it makes me stop and ponder. Our initial responses are usually a by-product of the rituals we’ve established in our lives. Daniel had made it his habit to be thankful. Therefore, who God is and what God provides was front and center in Daniel’s heart — even in the midst of heartbreak.

I am so challenged and inspired by this. Where do I run when life presses in on me? On whom or on what am I really dependent? Do I have a habit of inviting guilt to join me in my pit? What might happen if I stopped grabbing for comfort and instead embraced the perspective change of thanksgiving?

Yes, life will be full of pits. But that doesn’t mean I have to be a pit dweller or a pit eater.