The End of the Christian Life: Lenten Study Companion, Week 1
Author: J. Todd Billings and Kaitlyn DeVries
February 19, 2026
Chapter 1: Welcome to Sheol: A Guided Tour of Life in the Pit
“I waited patiently for the LORD; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” —Psalm 40
Tense neck. Tightened shoulders. Furrowed brow. As I sit at my computer, I suddenly realize that, while I thought I was relaxed, my body is still holding the stress that I’m feeling. Maybe, in the back of my mind while I check emails, I’m thinking about my upcoming doctor appointment. Maybe it’s continued worries about the ways COVID-19 is impacting my community, or even the weight of the sharp disagreements that divide our nation. Suddenly, I’m sucked down into ‘the pit,’ and my body enters ‘fight or flight,’ the natural self-protection mode that seeks to control the threat, even if that threat is subconscious. In a subtle way, my body is reacting as if a bear might jump out from around the corner. I take a deep breath, stand up, and grab my coat. It’s time to take a walk.
At times, all of us find ourselves in a dark and miry pit, in Sheol. This pit has many forms, but they all share a sense of feeling somehow abandoned. Perhaps we struggle with illness, fear of violence, or the grief of a broken relationship. Scripture offers guidance to those of us in the pit --wait patiently for the Lord. This doesn’t mean passivity, a hopeless self-resignation in the midst of defeat. But, instead of fighting or fleeing, we are invited to open our eyes, even if just for a moment. In an act of courage, we can slow down, look around, and become accustomed to the strange terrain. In this place, we know we need a Deliverer. We can’t get out of the pit on our own. Yet, in this place, we can also find that we aren’t alone after all. For through Christ, the perfect dwelling place of God, “the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it” (Jn. 1:5).
Practice:
- Daily: Is your body carrying the tension of the ‘flight or fight’ response? Take a moment to pay attention to your body. Close your eyes. Release the tension from your neck, your shoulders, your face. Take a few slow, deep breaths, thanking God for the gifts of life, breath, and creation in its wonders. Thank God that even “if I make my bed in Sheol, you [the Lord] are there” (Ps. 139:8)
- This Week: Take a walk. I find a local cemetery to be a relaxing place. It’s cold in Michigan this time of year, so if you’re like me, you may need to bundle up. Walk slowly and carefully. Take time to notice what’s around you. In a cemetery, notice the names and dates on the headstones. Wonder about the lives lived and lost, each person’s hopes and fears. Giving thanks for the gift of life, remind yourself that someday you too will be among the dead.
- Reflect/Discuss: Review the discussion questions on pages 47-48. Journal your responses, or if you’re in a group, share your thoughts with others. What questions, insights, and hopes do you carry with you from the reading into this coming week?
Prayer:
Read Psalm 40 again, this time as a prayer. As you pray, name some ways in which the Lord has turned to you and heard your cry. Name also some areas in which you are still waiting.
Study based on The End of the Christian Life, by J. Todd Billings. Used with permission
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