Devotionals

---

What A Difference A Day Can Make
©
by

Stephen A. Peterson


In 2004, I read where an executive in a well know corporation had lost his job of 19 years to a re-alignment and downsizing. As he was making his way home, he considered suicide. He could not bring himself to tell his wife and children of the lost of his job or the humiliation he believed would follow. He also could not face the prospect his neighbors and friends finding out that he no longer had a job and might have to depend upon someone other than himself for support. When he arrived home, he went into their bedroom where, under lock and key, he kept his collection of pistols. He took the highest caliber pistol, loaded it, closed his eyes, and then put the barrel in his mouth to end it all. He could have ended his life right then and there but something stopped him. “Maybe I’ll do it after my daughter’s birthday. I can’t do it so close her birthday. I’d ruin my daughter’s life forever if I did it now.”

That night he could not sleep soundly. In the morning as he sat down to breakfast, he was a nervous wreck. Although the temperature outside was in the 40’s, he was sweating profusely. Then as he was checking the want ad section for another job, the telephone rang. It was a colleague in another corporation who had heard that he has lost his job the day before. It just so happened his corporation had a vacancy due to a promotion in his department. He was offered the position with a salary increase nearly doubling his yearly income.

The once unemployed executive went into the bedroom, unloaded the pistol, put the pistol back into the lock box and fell on his knees in prayer.

Winston Churchill, in the darkest days of World War II for England told the British people, “Victory is never final and defeat seldom fatal unless you give up. Though some battles are lost, the war is not.”

On this day, people are experiencing job loss, the death of a loved one or a major shift or change in the family. Yet if something of this sort or worse befalls you or someone you know, be careful not to judge yourself too harshly. Self-condemnation only compounds your problem or problems not solve them. You could do something to yourself or others you will surely live to regret! Pray about problem or problems, sleep on it and don’t be so proud that you can’t discuss the matter with a trusted friend. You will be surprised how much better your situation will look.

Christians are told that Christ along with the Christian community (the Body of Christ) can work through any adversity with unconditional love, compassion and mercy. In many, many instances, giving a problem 24 hours can made a monumental difference in your attitude, outlook and probably change your life for the good/better. You must let it! You must believe it!

---

PLEASE ENCOURAGE AUTHOR BELOW LEAVE COMMENT ON ARTICLE