A Fresh Start

"His anger is but for a moment. His favor is for life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning."

Psalm 30:5

These days I often find myself comparing myself to Jonah. God told Jonah to go to Nineveh and warn the people there that if they were to repent of their sin, He would forgive them. Jonah didn't want to see God forgiving those people! He felt they were beyond forgiveness. Instead of doing as God said, he got on a boat going in the completely opposite direction of Nineveh.

While on the boat a huge storm began. Jonah knew the storm was his fault: he disobeyed the Lord! He told the sailors to throw him overboard, which they wasted no time doing, and immedately the sea was calm again. God then sent a whale to swallow up Jonah. Not knowing what was happening and feeling very frightened, Jonah prayed and confessed his disobedience to God. The whale then vomited him up and on to dry land. God appeared to him and said "Arise, go to Nineveh." (Jon 3:2)

Wouldn't things have been easier if Jonah had just listened to God in the first place??

This is where I am these days; riding along in the belly of a whale. I have disobeyed my Heavenly Father by trying to take control of my life - the life I gave Him - and trying to do things my way. What a complete and total mess I made! How miserable I had become! I was broken. This week I prayed and confessed my sin of disobedience to Him, giving Him back the control. I know he will take my sins, my resentment, disappointment and anger and in return will shower me with His perfect love and forgiveness.

I don't know what He has in store for me. But I know He has a plan and a purpose for my life. I know that I matter to Him and that He loves me. I know that in His perfect timing the whale will vomit me up onto dry land, and I will be where I am meant to be, where God has planned for me to be. Where He can best use me.

It's lousy being in a whale's belly. Maybe you have been there before. Maybe you are there now. Remember that His favour is for life, our weeping will not last forever, our joy will be restored.

I can't wait to see where He's leading me! Lead on Lord!!