Whatever It Takes

God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.
2nd Peter 3:9 The Message

I'm still chewing on the thought of that boatload of people who found God because of the storm He threw at Jonah. A friend of mine asked, "Do you think they saw the fish swallow Jonah?" I don't know. All I really know is God did whatever was necessary to redirect Jonah, to get the Ninevites to repent, and save a boatload of sailors in the process. Whatever it takes. 

In Texas, we never like it when we think that someone is holding back on us. Of course, I imagine that's probably the same wherever you are. No one likes to think they're not getting the full measure of something; nor do they want to receive less than what they've been promised. So, how often does it whittle at our faith when God doesn't answer our prayers the way we think He should?  He's not holding back to deprive us, He's doing whatever it takes...

Do we start to not believe that God is Jehovah Rapha when someone isn't healed? Do we doubt His sovereignty when we witness Christians martyred for their beliefs? Do we lose it because His ways are higher than our ways - when He's already told us that He has a higher purpose in whatever comes our way? What IS that purpose? 

I believe the purpose is that ALL should come to repentance! God is not willing that ANYONE should be lost! He is so committed to our eternity that He sent His only Son, Jesus, to die for our sins so that we could have eternal life with Him. Both God and Christ were willing to do that, knowing that in Heaven there is no more pain, no more crying, no more dying, but to get there from here, we have to come to repentance! And God is willing to use WHATEVER IT TAKES to get us there! 

Storm. Fish. Whatever it takes...

Prayer:

Father,
          Open our eyes and our hearts so that we can see Your hand and feel Your love in everything that You allow to touch our lives. Let us heed Your guidance and direction and follow each and every step You ask us to take - no matter where it is as long as You are with us. In Jesus' Name we pray. Amen