Lately I’ve had a fascination with the Biblical story of Jonah. I can relate to him in so many ways: It often takes me a while to surrender my wants and desires to God’s divine plan; I often set a very high standard for myself and others which can lead to inappropriate blame or pride; and many times I find myself focusing on the negative of a situation rather than looking for the positive that God can cause to come to pass.
As I was reading and studying Jonah, God showed me in a new way how He consistently provides for us in the midst of our storms. His provision often doesn’t come when or how we expect it, but that does not diminish His provision or His faithfulness.
When Jonah boarded the boat to Tarshish in an attempt to run away from God rather than be obedient to his call, he and the other sailors encountered a frightening storm. As a result of running away from God, Jonah was blamed for the storm and thrown to the sea. Jonah was a Hebrew man. Hebrews were mountain people, to whom the seas represented death.
When the sailors threw Jonah overboard into the tumultuous seas, the storm stopped. Jonah sunk beneath the waves, with water closing in on him, ushering in his fear of death.
Yet, God provided for Jonah even though he was thrown into the sea. As he was thrown overboard, the storm stopped. Jonah was swallowed by a fish, and stayed in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. While a fish belly would not be high on my list of desired accommodations, had the fish not swallowed him, he would have drowned!
When Jonah had run away from God, he was hoping to escape his situation. Yet following his own path led to greater desperation and more dire circumstances. How often do we act like Jonah and run from God’s plan for our lives, only to mess up our lives more by following our own desires rather than God’s? Yet in his sovereignty, mercy, and grace, God provides and protects.
How have you experienced God’s provision in the midst of a storm in your life?
I continue to be in the storm and struggle with wanting to hear God and do whatever He wants, but fearful because I don’t think he is speaking to me. Then I get fearful that that I can’t hear him. I just wake up each day praying this is the day.
Oh Dear Faydra, how I have been there. But that is a big lie of the enemy that God isn’t speaking to you or that you can’t hear Him!! Don’t buy into that lie. God is speaking all the time, and He wants to be in constant communication with you. I have found though that sometimes I get too busy to hear that “still small voice.” Remember, friend, God did NOT give you a spirit of fear, but He gave you power, love, and a sound mind. Rest in that. Our job is to believe, His job is to act. I’ll be praying for a fresh revelation of that for you!! Hope does prevail.
I love this post, I have been living in a storm of health issues, the loss of my grandmother, went I felt like giving up on everything, God always whispered in my ear and touched my heart with his word, with encouragement from other people around me. He has helped me to reflect upon all that I have, he has shown me that in th midst of my storm he has been there, I can look back and see him working in my life during the darkest of days. I’m still struggling with health issues and months later still finding comfort through the memories I have of my grandmother and I yet still see how God is providing and getting me through it all. His love never wavers for me.
Oh Maggie, I’m so glad you can see that His love truly never does waver for you! We may not see or feel God in the midst of the storm, but our job is to trust that He is. I pray He will continue to comfort you! Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment. Blessings to you!
Ha! Love the story of Jonah. He is so much like many of us. We think we know better what to do with our lives than God. Then, when it is too late, we realize we have messed up.I can certainly relate. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for the encouragement Mary! We often look to ourselves to do, to provide, etc. The good news is, God loves us and calls us back to Him despite ourselves! Be blessed!
Good share about the Biblical story of Jonah. I do agree that most of us looks at the negative part rather than looking for the positives that God can bring in our way. Thanks for sharing.
Lisa, we do often look at the negative aspect of our trials. But thank goodness we can change that through the renewing and transforming of our minds! Thanks for stopping by! I hope you’ll come back again.
I’ve experience it too many ways to list here! He keeps on providing new provisions and mercies in our household every day. I felt a big like Jonah when I was running from God’s calling for me, but each time I follow His guidance, I am blessed. Thank you for sharing.
Kristi, many of us replicate Jonah’s journey and run from God’s calling. Thankfully in His mercy and grace He woos us back to Him. Thanks for stopping by!
Wonderful and insightful thoughts on the provisions of God and how trusting Him in the hard moments of life brings blessings. Thank you for your challenging words and for reminding me to not run from the storms, but to trust Him in them!
Thanks for stopping by and taking the time to comment Charity! I’m glad you enjoyed the post. We all need to be challenged and encouraged at times: iron sharpens iron. Keep trusting Him in the storms.
God has provided blessings for me so many times, through Scripture, family, friends, strangers, books, online messages and so much more. God always knows just what I need to hear or read. I just need to be sure my eyes and ears are open to His message. 🙂