Have you ever struggled with following God’s will for your life?
When you receive an answer to a prayer that was the opposite of what you wanted or expected, how do you take the news?

I read the story of Jonah a few days ago. Jonah had to learn the hard way on how to follow God’s will for his life. God instructed Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh and cry repentance to the people. Jonah refused. He found a ship bound for Tarshish. He paid the fare and climbed aboard.

He thought that he could outrun God.

A severe storm came in while they were traveling. Jonah spoke with the fishermen and explained the situation. He told them that he was the reason for the storm and that he had fled from the presence of God.

Jonah asked the fishermen to cast him into the sea to stop the tempest.
The fishermen tried to bring the boat into the shore, but the storm was too great. After much deliberation and prayer, the fishermen agreed to cast Jonah into the sea.

The tempest stopped.

A great fish swallowed Jonah. He spent three days and nights in the fish. During this time he prayed and repented for not following God’s will. The fish returned him to dry land.

Jonah then follows God’s instructions and will and preaches repentance to Nineveh. The people accept the call to repentance and turn from their wicked ways. God is merciful and saves the city.

Jonah becomes angry at God for his mercy. God responds:
“Doest thou well to be angry?”

When we don’t agree with God’s direction for our life and we find ourselves becoming upset, we should ask ourselves the same question that God asked Jonah:

“Doest thou well to be angry?”

Anger sets us off course, as it did with Jonah.

Jonah didn’t fully understand God’s plan for his life,
and we don’t always understand God’s plan for our own lives.
We must trust in his guidance, whatever the answer may be.

Love,

Amber

Return to Christ