I saw that the bottom was about to fall out, but I couldn’t do a thing.
The speeding car zoomed past my driveway, a mere one hundred feet from a stop sign. The driver would soon cross a major highway. I quickly looked up and down the highway to see if the driver could avoid an accident. He couldn’t. A lone car meandered down the highway and was soon t-boned by the speeding car that ran the stop sign. The driver who ran the stop sign wasn’t seriously injured, but the lady in the other vehicle had to be flown to a nearby hospital and undergo several surgeries. She never knew her bottom was about to fall out.
Nor did those Peter preached to on the Day of Pentecost. Imagine their surprise when he used references from the Old Testament to prove that Jesus was God’s Messiah sent to save the world. Then the convicting blow when he informed them they were responsible for his crucifixion. Their bottom was about to fall out unless they acted.
How the bottom looks varies between individuals and even within the same individual. Bottoms can include financial hardships, divorces, deaths, arrests, addictions, unemployment, rebellion, unfaithfulness, etc. Our reaction to the bottoms that fall out is more important than what the bottom actually is.
The least desirable reaction would be turning our backs on God. God never allows or sends trials hoping this will happen. While He rarely clues us in on why something happened, He never intends for us to walk away from Him. He wanted those listening to Peter to turn to Him, not away.
If we let them, the bottoms will always increase our patience. Trials try. It’s their nature. God’s purpose in allowing or bringing them is to enhance our patience with ourselves, others, and Him. Patience should be a sought-after virtue. Those who learn it fare better throughout life’s circumstances.
Bottoms will also increase our faith. God rewarded those who responded to Peter’s sermon by placing their faith in Jesus with forgiveness and eternal life. Trials stretch our faith in God’s goodness, protection, and guidance. As our faith in Him grows, we’ll trust Him more and gain more spiritual victories over sin and unpleasant circumstances.
Think of how you typically respond when your bottom falls out.
Martin Wiles lives in Greenwood, SC, and is the founder of Love Lines from God. He is a freelance editor, English teacher, pastor, and author. He serves as Managing Editor for both Christian Devotions and Vinewords.net and is an instructor for the Christian PEN (professional editor’s network). Wiles is a multi-published author. His most recent book, Hurt, Hope and Healing: 52 Devotions That Will Lead to Spiritual Health, is available on Amazon. He and his wife are parents of two and grandparents of seven. He can be contacted at [email protected].