White-crowned sparrows are singing a new song this year. Traffic in the San Francisco Bay area has reduced dramatically, creating a quieter environment, and the clever birds have adapted their behavior. Researchers have found the songs and calls they use to attract mates are now of a higher quality that travel nearly twice as far as before the public health crisis reduced traffic flow and urban noise.

Sometimes difficult times create new songs. Here’s how King David expressed the idea: “I waited patiently for the LORD to help me, and he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me up out of the pit of despair, out of the mud and the mire. He set my feet on solid ground and steadied me as I walked along. He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.” Psalm 40:1-3 NLT

These verses describe two faithful actions of believers just as relevant and true-to-life today as they were in David’s days…going down into the pit and climbing up out of the pit. In fact, the scholar Walter Brueggemann argues the entire Christian life is lived between those two faithful actions of descent and ascent with footsteps on solid ground bridging the gap from pit-to-pit.

What are the “pits” in your life…Are you in one now? The Lord pays attention to our desperate call from our desolate pits. He is faithful to lift us out, steady our feet, and give us a new song to sing. David’s pits included being caught in his own sin and rebellion, unfair attacks from others, and even grieving the loss of a child. But, he learned that each experience of the pit created a new song.

Different tones, increased richness and depth, and an expanded reach can result from those new songs that grow from deep pits. It’s not only sparrows who learn to sing in different ways. Whatever “pits” you fall into, I pray you find a new song to sing on the other side.

Waiting patiently for a new song,

Titus

P.S. If you missed this weekend’s service, be encouraged to “stand firm” by listening today. We’re looking forward to online and onsite services this Sunday October 4 at 9:15 and 11AM. If you’re planning to attend onsite, please take a moment to let us know you’re coming.