We’ve heard the story of Jonah since we were kids. Jonah disobeyed the Lord’s command and subsequently was swallowed by a whale. He spent 3 days and 3 nights in the belly praying.
We often times get “swallowed by a whale” in life. Things happen around us and, just like Jonah, we try to handle it ourselves or run from it all together. That’s when the Lord has to step in and put us in a spot where there is nothing for us to do but call upon Him. Just like the whale’s belly, those places are dark, lonely, scary, and no doubt smelly, but it’s there that the Lord has our complete and unabashed attention. The Lord doesn’t want us to abandon difficult situations, He wants us to face them head on with His help and guidance.
Jonah stayed in his whale’s belly for 3 days and 3 nights. We might have to stay in the belly a lot longer, however, it’s when the whale cracks open its mouth, we get a ray of sunshine and realize that He is still right there with us. Jonah’s whale was courteous enough to spit him up on dry land and we might not get so lucky: we might have to tread a little bit of water before making it to dry ground. But as we are riding that vomit wave to shore, we can smile and know that He didn’t forget us…He needed us to hang out in the whale’s belly in order to learn something. What is He trying to teach you?
“A wise man will hear, and will increase learning; and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels.”
Proverbs 1:5 KJV
