When It Isn’t Going Your Way
“But Jonah was afraid to go and ran away from the Lord. He went down to the seacoast, to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket, went on board, and climbed down into the dark hold of the ship to hide there from the Lord.” LVB Jonah 1:3
Most likely everyone reading this Bread knows the story of Jonah. How God called him to go to the city of Nineveh to preach. But Jonah was afraid, and ran, by boarding a ship out to sea.
When a terrible storm arose, the crew threw him overboard to save themselves. The seas immediately calmed, and God sent a huge fish which saved Jonah’s life by swallowing him thus giving Jonah a safe place to exist until he got to shore. While in the safe harbor of the fish, Jonah thanked God and reaffirmed his commitment to God. Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah upon the dry shore.
When Jonah landed safely on the dry beach, who was waiting for him? You bet ya’ : the Lord! And God commanded Jonah for a second time to go to Nineveh and preach.
Jonah did, but things didn’t go the way he expected. He became very frustrated. When things don’t go the way we want them to, don’t we get frustrated? We even get to the point Jonah was at and want to say, “I beg you, take my life, for death is better than what’s happening to me!” (Jon. 4:8). Getting frustrated is human. God never promises we’ll get what we want. In fact, more times than not we’d be worse off if we did! God doesn’t promise we will avoid the valleys; rather, He promises, “I will go through the valley with you” (“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” Ps 23:40). He doesn’t promise times will be easy, or even good, but rather that He will be there with us (“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken;… 2 Corinthians 4:8-9)(“…for he has said, ‘I will never fail you nor forsake you.’ " Heb. 13:5).
Things may not be going as planned. That could be a good thing. Whether or not it is a good thing, God will certainly turn it into a good thing! Our job is to stay centered upon God through the Risen Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. He’ll handle it from there.
Blessing Always In All Ways,
Steve
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Most likely everyone reading this Bread knows the story of Jonah. How God called him to go to the city of Nineveh to preach. But Jonah was afraid, and ran, by boarding a ship out to sea.
When a terrible storm arose, the crew threw him overboard to save themselves. The seas immediately calmed, and God sent a huge fish which saved Jonah’s life by swallowing him thus giving Jonah a safe place to exist until he got to shore. While in the safe harbor of the fish, Jonah thanked God and reaffirmed his commitment to God. Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah upon the dry shore.
When Jonah landed safely on the dry beach, who was waiting for him? You bet ya’ : the Lord! And God commanded Jonah for a second time to go to Nineveh and preach.
Jonah did, but things didn’t go the way he expected. He became very frustrated. When things don’t go the way we want them to, don’t we get frustrated? We even get to the point Jonah was at and want to say, “I beg you, take my life, for death is better than what’s happening to me!” (Jon. 4:8). Getting frustrated is human. God never promises we’ll get what we want. In fact, more times than not we’d be worse off if we did! God doesn’t promise we will avoid the valleys; rather, He promises, “I will go through the valley with you” (“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil; for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.” Ps 23:40). He doesn’t promise times will be easy, or even good, but rather that He will be there with us (“We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken;… 2 Corinthians 4:8-9)(“…for he has said, ‘I will never fail you nor forsake you.’ " Heb. 13:5).
Things may not be going as planned. That could be a good thing. Whether or not it is a good thing, God will certainly turn it into a good thing! Our job is to stay centered upon God through the Risen Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit. He’ll handle it from there.
Blessing Always In All Ways,
Steve
<><
posted by BreadBakers at 11:41 AM
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