Disaster

Jess and Jen moved into Rarebucks, a town of 79,000, so Jen could pursue schooling and Jess could work for United Parcel Service (UPS).  They didn’t have a lot of money but they did have the faith that God had called them to live there and that He would provide. Sure enough, a favorite uncle gifted Jen with $50,000 and they were able to afford a 20% down payment on a home. Though they were seven hours from both sets of parents, they were happy to put down roots and start a family.

The journey started out great. After two years in Rarebucks Jen gave birth to Ericka.  Jess was asked to serve as a deacon in the 5thBaptist Church and he made a good set of friends playing on a community softball team.  UPS promoted him to a managerial position, which meant more money. Soon they were able to afford a boat and spend weekends fishing and water skiing.  They had so much fun they started missing church to spend more time together recreationally.  

Jess loved being a manager so much that he got into the habit of putting in 70-hour workweeks.  Jen took care of precious Ericka and continued her schooling.  But she began to resent Jess being away from home so much.  As she complained to him, he in turn resented the fact that she didn’t seem to appreciate what his hard work provided.  What had been a solid marriage degraded into frequent arguments punctuated by either sarcasm or shouting.  Throughout this downward spiral, the Lord was all but forgotten.

Jen fed a strong, growing attraction to Robere, a fellow student who was great at listening to her frustrations and who was quick to praise and encourage her.  Jess enjoyed an admirer on his coed softball team who thought he was handsome and didn’t mind flirting.  It didn’t take long before both of them were cheating while rationalizing that they deserved better than what they were getting at home.
 
Meditation
Jeremiah 32:23--They entered and possessed it, but they did not obey Your voice or live according to Your instructions. They failed to perform all You commanded them to do, and so You have brought all this disaster on them.
 
Disaster.  Like dark, forbidding thunderclouds stocked with lethal lightning, Jess and Jen’s world became an unending storm.  He left her. She left him.  Ericka suffered.  UPS downsized and let Jess go.  Jen to make ends meet abandoned chasing her coveted degree.  Instead of recognizing their growing gap from God, each rationalized their behavior and turned their own way.  That’s what true disaster is—turning one’s back to heaven. Facing and moving in the wrong direction brings God’s judgment.  It’s never worth it.  

Disaster.  We may avoid or certainly survive any disaster and emerge with victory and joy if our eyes are on Jesus. How we fare is determined by where we face. Something to think about . . . in reveration.
 
Inspiration
Our attempts to face the problems of human life apart from Jesus Christ are futile.—Oswald Chambers in The Highest Good 
 
©2018 Daniel York  ARR. Reveration is the weekly devotional ministry of First Cause.  If you would like to receive these devotionals go to www.firstcause.org and click on the “Click here to receive weekly devotionals” box.  Unlimited permission to copy this devotional without altering text or profiteering is allowed subject to inclusion of this copyright notice.      
 
Ecclesiastes 12:10-The Teacher sought to find delightful sayings and to accurately write words of truth.  (Holman CSB)