The Spirit of God gives us the energy to get out of the holes we’re in. Each message of perseverance in the Bible is an inspired variation of the second rule of holes. To get out of a hole, keep climbing. Warren Wiersbe said, “The bumps are what you climb on.” “Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons . . . the reward is life and more life” (James 1:12 MSG). 

A better life is the light at the top of the hole. Don’t stay in a hole out of misguided conviction. There’s only one direction to go—up. Getting out of a hole demands we lift our eyes from where they are focused—down. I can tell you what to expect. There will be stress. There will be strain. There will be letting go of some things you like. There will be opposition from others who want you to stay in the hole with them. There will be stumbles and falls when toeholds give way. It’s rare to get out of a hole on the first try. But to get out of a hole keep climbing. Climb to daylight. Extend one hand of faith and then the other and lift yourself out of it. And then raise both hands to heaven. “God has delivered me from going down to the pit, and I shall live to enjoy the light of life” (Job 33:28).