Jumping to Conclusions

​Allie jogged from her house to school when a neighborhood dog broke loose from his owner and chased her.  The mean canine bit her several times before his master was able to regain control. “How unfair and unlucky!” her angry Aunt Zelda said to her mother Susan as they sat in the hospital waiting room while the doctor treated her.  “We don’t know that,” Susan responded.

Because of her injury Allie missed the bus taking her classmates on a field trip to the zoo. A car running a red light broadsided the bus, causing injuries to most of the students.  As they watched the news on television that evening, Allie said, “Mom I should have been on that bus, that was so unfair to happen to all my friends!”  Her mother looked at her but said, “Honey we don’t know that.”  

The next day, a wealthy businessman feeling sorry for the injuries sustained by the students and the loss of the school bus wrote a large check to the school enabling the principal to purchase a new bus and build a track and soccer field.  The following spring, Allie started as a 100-meter sprinter on the track team.  The coach’s daughter wanted to sprint and so he made Allie switch to 400 hurdles. Allie did not like hurdling and complained to her mother about how unfair it was for the coach to give preferential treatment to his daughter.  “We don’t know that,” Susan calmly answered her.  “If you don’t like hurdling, try something else.”

Allie, realizing she had little talent for jumping, quit the team and was recruited to play soccer. She turned out to be such a gifted striker a Division II college gave her a scholarship.  Allie and her parents had prayed for years that God would provide the means for her to go to college. In looking backwards she saw how wise her mother was in not jumping to conclusions.
 
Meditation
Ecclesiastes 7:8--The end of a matter is better than its beginning; a patient spirit is better than a proud spirit.
 
So often we make faulty assumptions based upon our immediate circumstances.  God says to us in Isaiah 46:10, “I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: My plan will take place, and I will do all My will.”  Rather than stress over our situation or circumstances we would do well to trust God. So often the impatience of an audience gives Him no credence creating despondence.  Prudence reveals that His providence bears evidence of His benevolence whence comes reverence!
 
Inspiration
"O Jesus, the great rock of foundation
Whereon my feet were set with sovereign grace.
Through shells or death with all their agitation.
Thou wilt protect me if I will only trust in Thy grace.
Bless Thy Holy Name!"—Sergeant Alvin York 10/5/1918
 
©2015 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)