Jonah 1:4 NLT
We have all experienced storms in life. As Christians, we call out to Jesus, waiting for Him to stand and say, "Peace! Be still!" It sounds like a good plan, doesn't it? He did it for the disciples that time, didn't He? Why wouldn't He do it for us, even if our storm is a figurative one rather than a literal storm? After all, it's difficult to keep moving forward with our plans if we're fighting just to stay afloat.
And therein lies the crux of the matter. We need to ask ourselves some difficult, yet telling questions.
How did we get in the middle of the storm to begin with?
Whose way are we following - ours or His?
Are we running toward God or trying to avoid Him?
Honest answers to these questions will provide our best course of action to surviving the storm.
Teaching moment -
In the case of the disciples, they were walking in obedience. They were doing what Jesus told them to do when the storm came upon them. He spoke to it and the winds ceased, and He rescued them, teaching them about faith in the moment.
In the case of the disciples, they were walking in obedience. They were doing what Jesus told them to do when the storm came upon them. He spoke to it and the winds ceased, and He rescued them, teaching them about faith in the moment.
Lesson -
Storms will come even when we walk up close, right next to Jesus. And yet, we have only to trust Him to see us through, because He will.
Storms will come even when we walk up close, right next to Jesus. And yet, we have only to trust Him to see us through, because He will.
Teaching moment -
Jonah, on the other hand, was trying to avoid God because he didn't want to do what God had instructed him to do. And he wasn't going to stop, that is until the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm...
Lesson -
Sometimes, God throws the storm at us to stop us in our rebellious way. The truth is, we don't always appreciate it, or the truth that it is evidence of His great love and mercy. We don't like to think of God throwing storms at us, yet Romans 2:4 asks, Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
The story of Jonah is a great depiction of repentance and God's redemption - for Jonah and the Ninevites. And for us...
Prayer:
Father,
Open our eyes to see the Truth of any self-serving ways we may have slipped back into. Thank You for doing whatever it takes to stop us from our sin and turn us back to You. Forgive us, O God. Give us clean hands and pure hearts to be willing and able to follow Your plan for our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
Jonah, on the other hand, was trying to avoid God because he didn't want to do what God had instructed him to do. And he wasn't going to stop, that is until the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm...
Lesson -
Sometimes, God throws the storm at us to stop us in our rebellious way. The truth is, we don't always appreciate it, or the truth that it is evidence of His great love and mercy. We don't like to think of God throwing storms at us, yet Romans 2:4 asks, Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?
The story of Jonah is a great depiction of repentance and God's redemption - for Jonah and the Ninevites. And for us...
Prayer:
Father,
Open our eyes to see the Truth of any self-serving ways we may have slipped back into. Thank You for doing whatever it takes to stop us from our sin and turn us back to You. Forgive us, O God. Give us clean hands and pure hearts to be willing and able to follow Your plan for our lives. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen
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