It's Not Just a Kid's Story

Most of us have heard of the story of Jonah and the "whale". My pastor began a four-week series on the book of Jonah last Sunday. As I read the short book in preparation of the coming Sundays, I reflected how I and probably many of you feel like Jonah. We all have times where we have either ran from God or slowly drifted from Him. My slow drift from God in previous years combined with other things has caused me to feel like I'm in a fish...or rather I was in a fish prior to this last year.

Are you running from God? Do you remember a time when you did? Is God telling you to do something and you're ignoring Him by running in the opposite direction? Jonah took a boat in the exact opposite direction of what God told him to do (Jonah 1:3). The longer we run, the worse it will be for us in the long term. Turn, follow what God is telling you and receive His blessing and know His pleasure in your obedience. I have discovered myself the joy of obedience and being awakened to my drifting from God. I now relish in the pleasure, purpose, and plan of my Father. Oh to have the pleasure of our Father!!!!

Jonah ran from God and God loved him (and us) too much to let him just "get away". God will never let His children stray too long or too far. God does not tell us to do things and be obedient to Him out of dictatorship but rather out of ever-so-deep love and concern for us. He knows the big picture and He knows why it's so important for us to follow what He is telling us. We must heed to His commands. If we continue to refuse to listen, He will send a storm to get our attention. Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. Jonah 1:4. Even then, Jonah was having a pity party. He didn't "catch on" to God's awakening. Rather he told his sailors to throw him into the sea.

Is that what you do when God sends great winds and storms into your life? Do you feel like dying and giving up since things can't get any worse? I can honestly say that I have been there but the Lord has truly restored me!!! Don't give up but rather refocus your mind, heart, and soul. Plant your eyes upon the Lord and let Him guide you through the storm! Respond to God's attempt to wake you and turn your path toward obeying His call. God gave me a "wake up" moment. He changed my life forever but I am still waiting for the "final" outcome. Unfortunately, it took an extremely painful and heartbreaking event for me to see the Light and understand my actions regarding another person and most importantly what I had done to God by slowly drifting from Him.

As terrible as the winds and storms can be, allow them to be an wonderful awakening for you. Don't opt for jumping overboard and giving up. God has great things in store for us but we must be obedient to Him and follow what He is telling us. When in doubt, always consult His Word.

Jonah was prideful and he thought he knew better than God. He professed to worship God yet he willing went on his own. He answered, "I am a Hebrew and I worship the LORD, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land." Jonah 1:9 Have you ever done this? Let me guess it didn't end well and it never will. We can deceive ourselves for a time that it will be okay or that it IS okay, but it's not. I've been there and pray I'll never be there to the degree I was in the past. We must be aware that this can happen without intently running from God but slowly drifting to the point of waking one moment and seeing the devastation of how far we've drifted.

But the Lord provided a great fish to swallow Jonah and Jonah was in the fish for three days and three nights. Jonah 1:17 Can you imagine being in that fish with the muck, bile, and other carcasses of fish? I too have been in that great fish at a point in my life when I was covered in muck, never felt I could get 'fresh air', and totally consumed and surrounded by negative things pulling me down further. The dangers of slowly drifting from God: it's so slow we don't even know it's happening, it's so hard to hear God's voice, and we can't imagine God could or would change us. It is in the belly of the fish that Jonah prayed out to God. He said: "In my distress I called to the LORD, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry. You hurled me into the deep, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. Jonah 2:2-3 That is indeed what I did but it wasn't while in the belly of my fish (my muck) but afterwards during Gods' awakening. I challenge you to do the same. Do it before the storm gets so fierce the you beg to be thrown over because that would be better.

Jonah 2:4-6a I said, 'I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.' The engulfing waters threatened me,the deep surrounded me; seaweed was wrapped around my head. To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. That described me. I felt I had disappointed God and was banished from His sight. The engulfing waters consumed me, seaweed choked me, and I sank ever so deep. But we see in verse 6b that God brought up Jonah's life. But you brought my life up from the pit, O LORD my God. He brought up my life also and He can/will bring up yours also. Jonah 2:7 "When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple." How sweet those words. My sentiments exactly. My life was "ebbing away", God awakened me, and I turned my eyes to Him.

Let me say that all I describe concerning my experience was not a pre-Christ experience but rather it is something I endured during my walk with Christ. I tell you this because as Christians we are not exempt from during such things even in our walk with God.

At some point in your life you have, are, or will disobey God. You will turn a deaf's ear to what you know He is telling you. As Christians I believe we know when we are ignoring God but may be so deep into our flesh that we can convince ourselves it's okay or not that bad. You may turn a deaf's ear to His gentle knock but be assured if His knock is not answered He will allow winds and storms to get your attention so that you'll open that door and follow His instructions. Our God is good and extremely loving and forgiving. Put aside your pride and seek Him and you'll be blessed beyond your wildest dreams. Been there, done that, and He spewed me out of my fish only to see Him change me and bless me.

Be Blessed in Him,