“But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.”
~ Jonah 4:1-3
REFLECT
What a rollercoaster this Jonah story has been! Jonah gets called to Nineveh, disobeys, ends up in a fish, gets thrown up on land, preaches to Nineveh, and now is mad that Nineveh repented. What’s up with Jonah’s response? Much has been made about why Jonah is upset at their repentance, but the fact still remains, Jonah is angry that Nineveh is coming back to God. When Jonah was originally called to Nineveh, he was running from God and didn’t want to go. When Jonah was in the fish, he was connected back to God, and when he is out, he reverts to being angry and distances himself from God again! This kind of flip-flopping is something that Jonah becomes known for in Scripture, and it’s something that God-followers have battled from the beginning of time! When things are good, it’s easy to be distant or at odds with God. However, when things are tough, it’s suddenly easy to connect with God. Why is that? Honestly, it’s because when things are good, it doesn’t feel like we NEED God. The truth is that there is not a moment of the day in which we don’t need the grace of God. Today’s main thought is whether things are good or bad, include God in your world. Spend time with Him today and watch how He encourages and grows you!
PRAYER
Lord, today I commit to stay strong in you! God, I know that it’s easy to cut corners in my faith when things are good, but Father, today I recognize that I need you all the time! God, I know that I need you in the bad times, as well. God, today I choose to stay close to you. In Jesus’s name, I pray. Amen.