What's Your Whale?

Jonah 1:3, 17

Have you ever had that moment in life where you feel like God has abandoned you... or is mad at you or has forgotten about you, but in reality, He's right there with you the whole time taking care of you... teaching you... something?

If you remember Jonah's story at all, you'll remember that Jonah kinda felt like this at one point. God spoke to Jonah to perform a task. God called Jonah to go and tell the people of Nineveh to repent of their sins or they'll all die. But, Jonah hated the people of Nineveh so he decided to run away from his God given responsibility.

Turns out that God was a little frustrated with him and Jonah ended up floating around in the Sea. I'm sure he thought he was as good as dead and I'm sure he felt that God had abandoned him and all those other scary things he probably felt. I can't even begin to imagine what Jonah felt like being tossed over-board of a ship in the middle of the Sea... I certainly can't imagine knowing it was because God was frustrated with me!

It's so true that, probably all the time, when we're going through tough times in life... we forget that God is still good and He still loves us and wants the best for us. Yeah, it's cliché, but the truth is the truth and the truth comes from God.

Here's how good God is... may not have seemed like it at the time, but as you know, God send a huge fish to swallow Jonah! His situation just went from bad to worse! At least, it must have seemed so in his mind... at first. He must have been scared out of his mind! It didn't take long for Jonah to start praying and realizing that this fish was what saved him from drowning.

In Jonah 2:2 he prayed - "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."

God is GOOD! When Jonah's situation got "worse" by human perspective, it was actually God's way of saving him from certain death. God's grace was sufficient enough to help Jonah realize this. God heard Jonah's cry for help!

What's your Whale? Is there something in your life right now that makes you feel stuck in a rut... abandoned by God... hurled into the sea? Have you run from God? Ask God to show you if there is something holding you back from giving your whole self to God.... what is it... can you live knowing that you're really not listening to God and not fulfilling HIS PURPOSE for your life? Do you honestly think your way is better than our PERFECT GOD'S way for you? Believe me when I say that I am writing this for me as much as I am for anyone else this may apply too.

Think about it... seriously. God wants the best for you... for you to live your life to the fullest... HIS WAY... not the way YOU might think. Just let him tell you what that is.. and listen.

- Bry...