Do you ever feel hopeless? Lacking in faith? Ashamed of the questions you are asking God?
I know I sometimes feel those ways, but when I dive into the Word, I find that the book of Jonah teaches us about hopelessness and faith.
When I feel like all hope is lost, I’m reminded of Jonah. In Jonah, the Lord gives Jonah a message to take to Nineveh, but Jonah literally hightails it in the complete opposite direction. Ever pulled a Jonah?
Oh, I have, I’ve run from the callings that God has placed in my life, telling God that surely He must be mistaken, I was not cut out for that.
Still, God doesn’t give up on us, just because we are disobedient.
Jonah ran from God, so God created a storm so powerful that it scared the sailors aboard the boat that he was on. Out of fear and desperation, the sailors threw Jonah overboard. “Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:17 NLT).
In total despair, Jonah cried out to God. I can totally relate to Jonah here, I have felt like the world was completely against me. Have you? The promotion was given to someone else, the layoffs happened, you got sick, you received the diagnosis, your kid got into trouble with the law, and out of complete despair, you cried out to God?
In Jonah’s prayer, “He said, ‘I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me!” (Jonah 2:2 NLT). Jonah had nowhere else to turn, so he turned to God. Had he listened to God’s instructions in the beginning he wouldn’t smell like stinky fish bait. I’m like Jonah. Sometimes out of fear, insecurity, or being pulled out of my comfort zone, I will run from what God calls me to do, but when I finally listen to Him, the blessings are abundant.
Even though Jonah was in great despair he still remembered who to call out to God. No matter our circumstances, our Heavenly Father is King of Kings, Lord of Lords, and He wants to save his children. He’s not going to withhold His love from us.
Jonah’s prayer continues in verse 7, “As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple.” (Jonah 2:7 NLT).
When life’s circumstances seem hard, when the diagnosis hits, or the job is lost, we can change our perspective to see the good in it. We learn to trust God to care for us. Jonah started trusting God and being obedient to His will (by going to Nineveh) and he delivered the message that the Lord sent. The people listened to the message that Jonah delivered and changed their ways.
Jonah’s happy, right?
Not at all. Jonah got upset with God for not serving Nineveh a side of justice. Not only was Jonah disobedient earlier, but because God didn’t destroy Nineveh he got mad. Jonah literally complained that God was merciful. “‘… I knew that you are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. You are eager to turn back from destroying people.’” (Jonah 4:2b) I’m guessing Jonah didn’t see the irony in the whole situation – that he was disobedient too, yet God was merciful to him. Jonah’s displeasure with God’s decision to not destroy Nineveh sent him spiraling back down into hopelessness.
Even after Jonah’s anger, God still gives him a tree to protect him from the scorching sun. But he also gives him a worm that later eats the tree causing it to die. The chapter ends with, “Then the Lord said, ‘You feel sorry about the plant though you did nothing to put it there. IT came quickly and died quickly. But Nineveh has more than 120,000 people living in spiritual darkness, not to mention all the animals. Shouldn’t I feel sorry for such a city?” (Jonah 4:10-11 NLT).
I can absolutely relate to Jonah, wanting God’s wrath for others, but I am thankful that God is merciful and slow to anger because I’m guilty of sinning against Him and being disobedient too.
After we do God’s will, how often do we immediately turn to Him and say, “Okay God, now serve them a side of justice”?
We are perfectly fine with it because we feel that we are in the right at that particular moment. We see Jonah’s hopeless cries. We see his faithfulness too, but most importantly we see God being faithful.
God doesn’t turn His back on us – even when we turn our backs to Him.
He continued to provide for Jonah even when he was complaining. David reminds us in Psalms that “The Lord is compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love.” (Psalm 103:8 NLT). The Lord wasn’t just merciful to Jonah and David, He is merciful to us too.
Heavenly Papa, forgive me for my disobedience and for my desire for revenge. Thank you for being patient and slow to get angry. Thank you for providing for me and my family even when I complain. Help me to change to be more patient, more understanding, and slow to get angry. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
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