Image: Get Out of That Pit by Len Lantz (CC BY-NC-ND)
Synopsis: Len's Star Rating: 6 out of 10. A Christian book that contains humorous reflections and general advice on dealing with difficult life situations.
BY LEN LANTZ, MD, author of unJoy / 2.25.2022; No. 75
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Star Rating – 6 out of 10
Rating guide: 1 = horrible, 5 = average and 10 = wow
Author
Beth Moore
About the author
Beth Moore is a speaker, Bible teacher, and best-selling author of numerous books and Bible studies. She is the founder of Living Proof Ministries, which is a Christian organization devoted to the spiritual development of women, and she leads live, large-scale conference events across the nation described as a "live Bible study experience."
General description
Get Out of That Pit is a Christian book that focuses on the theme of not staying stuck when facing negative life events. Beth Moore uses humor, common sense, and biblical references to encourage the reader to change their thoughts and behaviors in order to improve their circumstances. The author's perspective is that "pit-dwelling is primarily a state of mind." This book is written in a conversational style and has sections in the back including "Scripture Prayers" and a "Discovery Guide," which includes questions for small group discussion and individual reflection.
Unique and most important aspects
Get Out of That Pit surprised me because of its frequent swings from serious to humorous. It left me wondering whether or not the book represented Beth Moore's regular, conversational style or was the forced application of humor to deflect the sting of painful topics. Beth Moore's storytelling involves a great deal of self-deprecating - and sometimes snarky - humor. The subtitle of this book is Straight Talk about God's Deliverance, and if the book's tone is how the author thinks and interacts with others in day-to-day life, then I believe that, at a minimum, she delivered on the promise of straight talk.
Considering the very personal and deep meaning of the word “beloved” in the Bible, the author's frequent use of the word when talking directly to the reader initially left me wondering whether she was being genuine, overly familiar, or flippant.
The book begins with a biblical analysis of a pit and later expands on ways that a person might end up in a pit. Despite the biblical references, a "pit" could still broadly represent any difficult, bad, or destructive life event, so the reader will not find specific advice for certain life situations in this book. Beth Moore courageously shares her history of overcoming past sexual abuse, and she encourages the reader to forgive others, trust in the deliverance of God, and avoid self-pity. She also recommends three strategies for getting out of a pit: cry out (let God know about your distress), confess (let God know about your situation and mistakes), and consent (proactively accept God's help).
Best quotes
"l am a huge proponent of godly professional counseling. Got it myself, and I'm not sure where I'd be without it. I needed to share things with an unbiased party. With someone who was bound by professionalism to keep my confidences. With someone who'd heard stories like mine before. I hear things from time to time that baffle me beyond any advice I know to give. I simply have no mental file from which to pull a ready answer. Also, I must keep in mind that professional counseling is not my job."
"Even the best of godly counselors have to guard against their counselees setting them up as deliverers."
Who would enjoy this book?
Readers who are interested in an entertaining book on dealing with life problems from a Christian perspective would likely enjoy Get Out of That Pit.
Who would not enjoy this book?
Readers who are interested in specific advice or who would be turned off by humor in a book that covers topics of pain and suffering are unlikely to enjoy Get Out of That Pit.
Conclusion
Get Out of That Pit is a Christian book that contains humorous reflections and general advice on dealing with difficult life situations.