http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2034:6&version=NIV
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+40:2&version=NASB
Having the bottom fall out of something is seldom good. For example, which one of us hasn’t had that happen to a bag of groceries? The bag got wet. Or there was too much weight. All of a sudden, bam! The bottom falls out. Next thing we know there are groceries all over the floor. Or the ground.
Or what about a business transaction? The paperwork is all set to get that house that we’ve had our eye on. Or that vehicle. All of a sudden, bam! The bottom falls out. An inspection reveals previously unknown damage. A credit score comes back lower than expected. Suddenly the deal falls apart. No house. No vehicle.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to the Bush family of Seffner, Florida last Thursday evening. Jeff Bush, 36, was in his bedroom sleeping at 11 pm when all of a sudden the bottom fell out. Of his bedroom. Literally. A large sinkhole swallowed Jeff and the entire contents of his bedroom. Jeff’s brother, Jeremy, who was also in the house, heard the noise and immediately ran down to his brother’s bedroom. When he opened the door, everything was gone. Including Jeff. Jeremy jumped into the hole to try to find and rescue his brother but was unable to do so. The hole was still collapsing and Jeff had to be rescued by a sheriff’s deputy. The sinkhole eventually grew to an estimated 60' deep. Fortunately Jeff and 3 other people in the house were unhurt.
I can only imagine the pain that Jeff felt. He lost his brother. In an instant. Without warning. He also lost the house that he was living in, since it has been subsequently demolished. The house had been in his girlfriend’s family since the 1970's. Now the house is gone. Along with many of their personal effects. All they have left are memories.
Isn’t that a lot like life? One day things are going well and the next thing we know, bam, the bottom drops out! We lose our job. We are in an accident. Or get diagnosed with a disease. We go through a separation. Or a divorce. A child gets into trouble with the law. A loved one dies. All of a sudden we are in a free fall. And we don’t know when or where we are going to land. Or even if we will land. Maybe we are just going to keep falling forever. These are traumatic times. In many cases, we never saw it coming. Just like Jeff Bush. Unfortunately, some people never recover from this. The bottom falls out of their life and their life is over. Maybe they don’t die. But for all intents and purposes, their life is done. Addiction. Anger. Bitterness. Withdrawal. They never recover. They gradually sink from sight. Never to be heard from again.
What can we do? Well, it’s not like we can prevent the bottom from falling out of life. It happens. Sooner or later it will happen to us. The goal is to be prepared. The best way to do this is to know God. To have a personal relationship with Him. Because at the bottom of every hole, God is there. He loves His children. And He will always be there for them. He will catch them. He will rescue them. He will put their feet back on solid ground once again. We have His word on this.
Lord, I thank you that when the bottom falls out of my life You are there. Sustaining me. Holding me. Loving me. May I continue to strengthen and deepen my relationship with You today. So that when bad times come I am not searching for You. I will know exactly where You are. Right beside me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly what happened to the Bush family of Seffner, Florida last Thursday evening. Jeff Bush, 36, was in his bedroom sleeping at 11 pm when all of a sudden the bottom fell out. Of his bedroom. Literally. A large sinkhole swallowed Jeff and the entire contents of his bedroom. Jeff’s brother, Jeremy, who was also in the house, heard the noise and immediately ran down to his brother’s bedroom. When he opened the door, everything was gone. Including Jeff. Jeremy jumped into the hole to try to find and rescue his brother but was unable to do so. The hole was still collapsing and Jeff had to be rescued by a sheriff’s deputy. The sinkhole eventually grew to an estimated 60' deep. Fortunately Jeff and 3 other people in the house were unhurt.I can only imagine the pain that Jeff felt. He lost his brother. In an instant. Without warning. He also lost the house that he was living in, since it has been subsequently demolished. The house had been in his girlfriend’s family since the 1970's. Now the house is gone. Along with many of their personal effects. All they have left are memories.
Isn’t that a lot like life? One day things are going well and the next thing we know, bam, the bottom drops out! We lose our job. We are in an accident. Or get diagnosed with a disease. We go through a separation. Or a divorce. A child gets into trouble with the law. A loved one dies. All of a sudden we are in a free fall. And we don’t know when or where we are going to land. Or even if we will land. Maybe we are just going to keep falling forever. These are traumatic times. In many cases, we never saw it coming. Just like Jeff Bush. Unfortunately, some people never recover from this. The bottom falls out of their life and their life is over. Maybe they don’t die. But for all intents and purposes, their life is done. Addiction. Anger. Bitterness. Withdrawal. They never recover. They gradually sink from sight. Never to be heard from again.
What can we do? Well, it’s not like we can prevent the bottom from falling out of life. It happens. Sooner or later it will happen to us. The goal is to be prepared. The best way to do this is to know God. To have a personal relationship with Him. Because at the bottom of every hole, God is there. He loves His children. And He will always be there for them. He will catch them. He will rescue them. He will put their feet back on solid ground once again. We have His word on this.
Lord, I thank you that when the bottom falls out of my life You are there. Sustaining me. Holding me. Loving me. May I continue to strengthen and deepen my relationship with You today. So that when bad times come I am not searching for You. I will know exactly where You are. Right beside me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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