Day 220 From the Pit to Praise—Let the Reform Begin in You

From the Pit to Praise—Let the Reform Begin in You

by Torrie Slaughter

📖 “You have turned for me my mourning into dancing… O Lord my God, I will give thanks to You forever!” – Psalm 30:11a, 12b (ESV)

🔍 Reflection:

Before we rebuild anything on the outside, we must first allow God to reform what’s within. Psalm 30 is more than poetic gratitude—it’s a personal altar. David doesn’t just recount his healing; he sings his story of transformation.

He begins at rock bottom: “You lifted me out of the depths and did not let my enemies gloat over me.” (v.1) This is a man who knows what it feels like to be surrounded, misunderstood, even buried under despair. And yet, he gives God glory—not because life got easier, but because God proved Himself faithful.

As Ezra steps onto the scene in chapter 7, we meet a man whose heart was “set on studying the Law of the Lord, doing it, and teaching it…” (Ezra 7:10). That’s where reform begins: not in public platforms, but in personal submission. Ezra leads a revival, but it starts in his own soul.

David mirrors that inward work:

• Crisis → Cry: “I called to You for help…”

• Despair → Deliverance: “You healed me… You brought me up from the realm of the dead…”

• Weeping → Worship: “You turned my mourning into dancing…”

Every believer will experience “nights” of weeping—grief, guilt, waiting seasons, silence. But joy comes in the morning not because circumstances change, but because God is constant. He doesn’t just bring you out—He transforms what broke you into a testimony.

In 1 Corinthians 4, Paul reminds us that we are stewards of the mysteries of God (v.1). That means what God has done in you isn’t just for you—it’s meant to be carried, taught, and shared.

Psalm 30 reminds us that joy isn’t the absence of hardship—it’s the evidence of God’s hand in our lives. Joy is the afterglow of deliverance. And that kind of joy is contagious.

💡 Takeaway:

Before God uses you to bring reformation to others—your family, church, city—He invites you to recognize His work in you. When you reflect on where He’s brought you from, it fuels a faith-filled response: “I will praise You forever.”

Let this be your declaration: “God, start with me. Reform begins here. I’ve seen Your faithfulness. I can’t keep silent.”

🙏🏽 Prayer:

Lord, I thank You for every low place You lifted me from. Thank You for not letting my past define my purpose. Teach me to be a steward of what You’ve done in me. Let my life overflow with gratitude, praise, and the joy that comes from Your presence. Begin the reform in me—and let it spill over into the lives of others. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

✨ Next Step:

Take time today to write a short testimony of something God has healed, restored, or transformed in your life. Share it with someone who needs encouragement, or post it as a declaration that God still turns mourning into dancing.