ITS NOT THE END OF YOUR JOURNEY, ITS JUST A BEND.

Date: :16/11/25

Christian Treasures Devotion*

Topic: It's Just a Bend; It Is Not the End of the Journey.

Scriptural Reference::Lamentations 3:22 (ERV): "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not."

Be blessed as you read today's devotion in Jesus' name. Amen.

Eric looked at the weather; it wasn't looking friendly at all. It had begun to drizzle again, and the forecast warned of a thunderstorm at 4 PM. Holding the steering wheel firmly, he glanced at the speedometer to check that he was still driving at 90 kilometers per hour. He thought to himself that he might be caught in the thunderstorm if he didn’t increase his speed. He hadn't planned to travel late, but a last-minute adjustment had forced him to change his plans. Jane had insisted on coming along with the kids, but they had a change of heart at the last moment due to the weather situation.

He turned on the radio, but the first station was unclear, likely due to the rumbling thunder. It seemed to be getting darker outside. Suddenly, the voice on the radio announced a traffic advisory. Eric glanced sideways, and the sky was ominously dark. “Holy Jesus,” he muttered to himself. He quickly did a mental calculation of the remaining fifteen minutes of driving and noticed only a few cars on the road for a Saturday afternoon. Nobody wanted to be caught in a storm. He chuckled to himself. He had to pass the gas station on Old Avenue, the mini-mart, the grocery shop, and then he would be home. He wondered if he could still make it to the farmhouse.

This journey felt longer than usual, perhaps because his wife and children were not with him. Although the drive typically took less than two hours, it seemed to stretch on today. Normally, they visited his family home once a month; it was an unspoken tradition that the children, Denzel and Mark, looked forward to. Waking up to the sounds of goats, geese, and pigs, along with Grandma's homemade cookies and fresh cheese, always made it special.

He began to wonder how his mother was feeling. Eric had always seen her as the strong pillar of the family, ever cheerful, but when she called this morning, she sounded a little scared regarding his father. Jimmy's pneumonia seemed to be worsening. At almost seventy-eight years old, his father was not getting any younger. He had refused to stay longer in the hospital, so Eric decided to move him to a different hospital—one his father hated. This time, he would insist that his father stay for proper treatment. Eric breathed deeply, feeling the weight of responsibility for his aging parents. His mother was nearly seventy years old, and he would turn thirty-seven this fall.

His elder sister had moved abroad with her family three years ago to somewhere in Africa.

A flash of bright lightning brought him back to reality. He glanced at the dashboard again, trying to refocus. When he looked up, he saw the bend in the road ahead, but it was too late. He had forgotten that he had increased his speed to one hundred kilometers per hour. He hadn’t noticed the bend in time and almost collided head-on with an oncoming vehicle. His car skidded dangerously close to the edge of the road, but he managed to regain control, thankful for his experience and the grace of God. He shuddered at the thought of what could have happened. After driving this road many times, he was well aware of the bend, and there was even a signpost warning drivers to slow down. Just minutes away from his parents' house, he had narrowly avoided an accident. God forbid.

What does this story teach us? Like Eric, many people can become so engrossed in challenges or busy lives that they fail to notice important things or know when to slow down and navigate the bend of life

Life's journey is not always smooth; some obstacles must be cleared, and failing to do so can lead to bigger problems.

The Lord has a message for someone reading this devotion today: not all roads are straight; there will be places where you need to slow down and navigate the bend properly. Otherwise, you risk becoming a casualty of life. Some delays in your journey may not come from the devil; sometimes, God intentionally slows you down for your own good, to protect you from situations you should not be part of or see.

LIFE LESSONS

So what should you do when you encounter a bend in the road of your destiny?

1. Calm down and navigate it carefully.

2. Ask the Lord questions: "Lord, what is your purpose for me now? Am I in the right place? Why are things not moving well?"

3. Wait for the answers.

4. Don't rush through the bend, as accidents can occur. You may lose control of the direction of your destiny.

*Assignment: Have a conversation with yourself using the Scriptural Reference today. Bless the name of the Lord and remember all his goodness and mercies. We are not consumed because of His mercies.

Note: :As our topic suggests, a bend does not signify the end of your journey; it's simply a negotiating point before you move on to new things.

Let's Pray: Our Lord and God. Thank you for your words today. Thank you for the wisdom, be eternally glorified in Jesus name Amen.