There is No Pit So Deep that God’s Love is Not Deeper Still

In Ravensbrück Concentration Camp, two sisters toiled in misery to spread God’s love in a dark place. One would die of disease, and the other would go on to turn many, even some of her former captors, to faith in Jesus’ Christ. Betsie Ten Boom, who would tell her sister Corrie “There is no pit so deep that God’s love is not deeper still,” assuring her of the magnificence of God, even though they were imprisoned, tortured and humiliated for the sake of Christ. Betsie would die before the camp was liberated, but her words still resonate with people thanks to Corrie’s missionary work. And these words are just as true today as they were when they were spoken.

There are some reading this who are hurting for no fault of their own: we walk on cursed grounds, and cursed things happen on this earth. There are some who have dug for themselves a pit they cannot get out of. Some, like Daniel in the Old Testament, are thrown in to a pit of lions for refusing to bow to false gods and the will of wicked men. Know this: whatever pit you feel you’re in, God closes the mouths of lions. God waits in the well with those tossed in by their jealous brothers. God walks through the fire, and God through Christ still raises dead men to life again. Whatever you’re walking through, God is there with you; you just have to surrender your situation, whether it’s your fault or not, to Him and trust Him with the outcome. Cast your cares upon Him. He cares for you. He is with you, and wants to restore you to Himself through the reconciliation of Jesus Christ.

1 Peter 5:1-11

So I exhort the elders among you, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, as well as a partaker in the glory that is going to be revealed: shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly; not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock. And when the chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory. Likewise, you who are younger, be subject to the elders. Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another, for “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.”

Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

2 Corinthians 1:8-11

For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.

2 Timothy 3

But understand this, that in the last days there will come times of difficulty. For people will be lovers of self, lovers of money, proud, arrogant, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, heartless, unappeasable, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not loving good, treacherous, reckless, swollen with conceit, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having the appearance of godliness, but denying its power. Avoid such people. For among them are those who creep into households and capture weak women, burdened with sins and led astray by various passions, always learning and never able to arrive at a knowledge of the truth. Just as Jannes and Jambres opposed Moses, so these men also oppose the truth, men corrupted in mind and disqualified regarding the faith. But they will not get very far, for their folly will be plain to all, as was that of those two men.

You, however, have followed my teaching, my conduct, my aim in life, my faith, my patience, my love, my steadfastness, my persecutions and sufferings that happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra—which persecutions I endured; yet from them all the Lord rescued me. Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, while evil people and impostors will go on from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work