Will we ever learn that God's plan for us is much bigger and better than we can ever imagine? Do you ever 'catch' yourself planning and arranging your life in such a way that you inadvertently look in the rear view mirror to see if God is following as you lead the way?
Don't blink...because just that fast everything can change. Jonah experienced how a life interrupted felt. Life's interruptions come in all shapes and sizes, but one thing they have in common is that God has a way of getting our attention.
Isaiah 55:8 says, "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways, declares The Lord." The story of Jonah is a wild tale to be sure, but one that captures the very essence of how futile it is to try and escape the call of God.
God had big plans for Jonah. He instructed him to go to the city of Nineveh and preach; but Jonah ran in the opposite direction. He found himself in the belly of a big fish, and with shouts of grateful praise, called out to his Lord. (Does your focus return to God when you're in a tight fix?) The Lord commanded the fish, and Jonah was released. God has a way of making everything fit into a pattern for good. Jonah went to Nineveh and proclaimed God's word.
Even after seeing the inside of a fish, and being spared, Jonah was unhappy with God. Really? That truth is more difficult for me than Jonah being swallowed by the fish! This whale of a story is a reminder of the mercy and grace available to us even when we mess up. We worship a God of second chances.
This is the season to thank God for His gifts. You cannot escape the embrace of His grace and acceptance, nor overstep the boundaries of His mercy. Thank Him for all the second chances you've experienced.