I haven’t shared many beach pictures lately because we no longer live on the coast. But master photographer Dan Thompkins (Southern Living Photography) captured this amazing shot of my most favorite place on earth: Murrells Inlet, South Carolina. It’s considered the “Seafood Capital of South Carolina”, and home to the famous “Marshwalk” and the best seafood restaurants around. It’s the launching place of deep-sea fishing excursions, jet-ski rentals, and more.

But for me it has long been my prayer garden. The sunrise over this magical place is brilliant, but so is the moonlight dancing on the water at 2:00 a.m. It’s the place where my mother lived with my step-dad Cliff during some of the happiest days of her life. It’s where Cliff took my young nephews to spotlight alligators. It’s where I bonded with my step-sister, Ronna.  I spent hours upon hours walking these shores with my mother, and also alone with God. It’s where I got baptized in the Holy Ghost. It’s where I met AND married the great love of my life, Edward Leitch.  It’s where Ed and I came face-to-face with a giant sea turtle swimming alongside our boat. It’s where I sat in a boldly-painted rocking chair, listening to steel-drum music while watching the goats and peacocks frolic on the island across the way.

Yes, to some it’s just a grassy body of water opening up to the mighty Atlantic ocean. To me, it’s a piece of heaven on earth. God willing, we’ll be camping there soon.

We are all too familiar with the term “Rock Bottom”.  It conjures up images of rocky terrain in the valleys winding through desolate deserts. We may visualize the fallen person as sitting on the rocky floor of a deep, dark well, having lost all hope of rescue.   Nobody ever desires to hit “rock bottom”, as it is perceived to be the worst place a person could ever land.  And yet many of us have found ourselves right there.

We all go through various trials and tribulations along life’s journey.  But rock bottom happens when everything seems to fall apart at once.  Think of poor Job in the Old Testament.  That godly man hit rock bottom with a loud thud!  He lost his children, his wealth and livelihood, and then his health.  Even his wife told him that he should just curse God and die!  (Job 2:9)

Rock bottom happens when we lose our jobs; when our spouse cheats on us or leaves us; when a child dies; when we lose our homes; when we lose our health.  My husband and I both experienced rock bottom moments years before we met.  But we both can shout and testify that those rock bottom moments were the moments we had to depend on the Lord 100%.  We each renewed our faith and emerged healed, filled and delivered!  Divorce and foreclosure, the deaths of parents and a child, and simultaneous job losses found each of us (at respective points in our lives) lying face down on that cold, hard surface of circumstances.  That lonely desolate place where all hope seemed lost is where the Savior Himself reached down and held us, promising to never leave us nor forsake us.  (Hebrews 13:5)  Although it seemed that everyone had left us, Jesus was right there… even at rock bottom.

I Googled images of “rock bottom” and retrieved a plethora of desert photos, mountains and valleys, and even a few cave openings.  Yet in almost every picture captured, no matter the surrounding terrain, at the very bottom there was water:  a stream, a river, or a lake.  The Lord immediately spoke to me saying, “I AM the river in the desert.  I AM the Living Water.  If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me.”  (Is. 43:19-20, John 4:10, John 7:37)  “I AM your rest and refreshing.  Lean on Me, and be healed and filled with my Spirit.  My joy shall be your strength.  I AM your hope of Glory.”  (Mark 6:31, Acts 3:19, Psalm 147:3, Neh. 8:10, Col. 1:27)

My friend, if you have found yourself at rock bottom, it makes no difference what chain of events may have dropped you there.  I know your fall was great, and painful.  I know it seems lonely and desolate where you lay.  But this is not your end.  You shall live and not die.  This is your time to reflect, to seek, and to heal.  Cast all of your cares upon Him, for He cares for you!  (1 Peter 5:7)  May you be refreshed and strengthened in Christ Jesus.  Your rock bottom is not a desolate grave, but rather a launching pad.  Get up and look up, for your redemption is nigh!  Cling closely to the Lord Jesus, and He will raise you up – healed, filled and delivered!  Rise up and walk again!