Down in the Pit on a Snowy Day

“Benaiah the son of Jehoiada… went down and killed a lion in the midst of a pit on a snowy day.” 1 Chronicles 11:22 (NKJV)

There is a story in Scripture that refuses to let us make excuses. His name was Benaiah, one of David’s mighty men. The Bible says he fought two lion-like warriors from Moab, but that is not the moment that grabs my heart. The moment that preaches is this one. He went down into a pit and killed a lion on a snowy day. Everything about that scene was stacked against him. If you are going to fight a lion, you do not fight him in a pit. That is the lion’s home. There is no easy way out. There were no stairs or exit plan. It was fight or die. And if that were not enough, the Bible says it was snowing. It was cold, slippery, and there was no traction. His lowest place and his coldest day collided at the same time.

That is where some of you are right now. You did not choose the pit. You did not schedule the snowy day. You just found yourself there. Cold in your faith. Low in your circumstances. Wondering if God still sees you or hears you. Wondering if this is where your story ends. But Benaiah teaches us something powerful. He went down, but he refused to stay down.

The enemy loves pits. Scripture says Satan is like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. He wants you isolated. He wants you cold. He wants you to believe this is your end. But Benaiah said, through God’s help, I can still slay this lion. Even here. Even now.

Sometimes feeling cold does not mean God has left. I have learned that often it means His eyes are fixed on you. It is in those moments that you have to get up on your faith feet and declare, I am not going to let this lion destroy my life. I may be low. I may be cold. But God is for me.

We have to stop sitting next to people who enjoy their defeat. We have to stop making excuses that keep us down. Yes, the pain was real. Yes, the loss hurt. Yes, the disappointment cut deep. But down is not your destiny. 

Like a nurse in a recovery room, God speaks to you. “You cannot lay here forever. You cannot bleed here forever. You will get sicker if you stay down. Hope will drain out of you if you stay down.” Faith is rebuilt when you stand back up.

To the discouraged. To the depressed. To the tired. To the single parent at your coldest and lowest. God’s hand is still on your life. This pit is not your grave. Declare today: Do not rejoice over me, oh my enemy. I may be low and cold, but I still believe. And all things are possible to him who believes.

Prayer: Lord, I may feel low, and I may feel cold, but I believe You are with me. Give me the strength to get up in this pit. Help me face what I am afraid of and trust You in the middle of it. I refuse to stay down. By Your power, I will rise. Amen.

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