Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

    before you were born I set you apart;

    I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.

Jeremiah 1:5 (NIV)

I was telling some buddies of mine that my breakfast routine in usually the same: two eggs and two waffles on which I spread peanut butter.

One of my buddies apparently thought that God called him to make me understand that peanut butter was not made to be spread on waffles,and that I should eliminate the waffles from my breakfast and replace them with wheat or white toast.

And for more than thirty minutes (I can't explain why), this became the topic of group text conversation that went around for collective opinions. When everyone had chimed in with their thoughts, I was asked what I was going to do in response to what had been suggested.

My answer was simple and immediate: I'm going to make two waffles and spread peanut butter on them—because it's my breakfast.

My point is that each of us is different, and there is no one way to do certain things—especially when it comes to surviving hard times. There’s no one way to spread your emotions on a certain type of suffering in life. You don't get through your experiences being anything other than true to who you are in Jesus Christ.

Your reaction to being in the pit will be different from the reactions of others who have survived it. You might want to walk around that muddy place rebuking Satan,loudly pleading the blood of Jesus, singing praise songs or utteringprayers. On the other hand, you might want to be still and know that God is God as you own your time in the muck and mire of adversity.

One thing we know is that God doesn't intend to lose you in that sunken place. He’s going to get you through it. You will survive. But you may as well go through it with the integrity of your own genuineness. Be honest with God about what's peculiar about you. Just because others got through a dark valley in a certain way, that doesn’t mean you have to walk through it with the same demeanor or by the same path.

God has formed you to be unique and He’s set you apart. That means your pain, your emotions, your reaction to suffering will be unique as well. Don’t give into the pressure to act or feel or respond like other people. Be honest with God and yourself, because there is no one way to do the pit.