Trusting in God’s Plan

With the beginning of each new day, in my prayers, I ask God to reveal His will for me. Sometimes the direction He wants me to follow is uncomfortable and not what I really want to do. When this happens I have to have faith and trust God’s plan.

Not so with Jonah. Jonah was given very clear directions from God. He was to travel to Nineveh and confront the wicked people living there. They were guilty of pride, greed, brutality and adultery. God was not pleased with them.

Jonah however, did not agree with God’s calling for him. He wanted “out”. Rather than fulfilling God’s Will, he chose instead to attempt to hide. He wanted to get as far away from God as he could. No way did he want to confront the wicked people of Nineveh. So, he stole away on a ship to Tarshish; thinking it would solve his predicament. Instead, it only made things worse. The ship succumbed to a mighty storm at sea and Jonah found himself, not only overboard, but swallowed by a whale. 

You could say Jonah went from bad to worse. When he realized what he had done, he begged God to forgive him. 

Jonah’s story contains a strong warning to all Godly people. We can easily miss the blessings of God’s grace, when we are extended beyond our comfort zone. As humans, we only have enough vision to see our circumstances of where we are at. God, on the other hand, sees the whole picture. He has planned our lives, and He will fulfill all His plans if we place our trust in Him.

Jeremiah 29:10-13 “For I know the plans I have for you”, declares the Lord. “They are plans to give you hope and a future. When you call upon Me, and pray to Me with all your heart, I will be found by you and I will bring you to a place, that I kept exclusively for you”.

I’m not sure I am getting to the point – but, what I am trying to say is, I would prefer to do God’s bidding, rather than go against His leading. So, each day I pray that I will hear God’s instructions and I will not just agree, I will obey. The belly of the whale is not where I want to be.

I know you’ve all heard and probably used the phrase, “You only live once”, well the truth is, “You only die once!” You live every day and every day God allows you to start over and begin your journey with Him anew! Pray and listen for His directions.

My Prayer                                                                                                                                

Father, so often we use our own thoughts to lead us rather than placing our trust in You to be our guide. Help us to, not only hear your voice, but give us the strength to obey Your calling for our lives and live each day with You, and through you.  Let us remember that it is through Your Son that we are forgiven and given the promise of eternal life in Your house.  Amen

Thanks be to God! 

Jim Kerner