Day 126: On the Detour

We all know the story of Jonah and how he ran from God. I want to break it down a bit and talk about how we encounter God on the detour.

Jonah was a prophet of God, meaning he was God’s mouthpiece. Chosen to speak the words God told him directly. So God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh, and tell the people that if they don’t repent destruction is coming. Instead of going to Nineveh, Jonah was like nope, I’m out. He tried to go to Tarshish. He went to Joppa, hopped on a ship and was on his way to Tarshish. He never even made it there, God sent a storm when he got on the boat and the people staring praying to their gods, and throwing cargo over, but Jonah was the cargo that really needed to be thrown over. They go to Jonah, who was sleep. He was sleeping, he has brought havoc on these people's lives because he don’t want to list and now he’s down there sleeping while they are dealing with the storm caused by him.  So they go to him and ask him what he did, and he tells them he was fleeing from the presence of God. (Jonah 1:7) Then he tells them to cast him into the sea, and then the storm will be stopped. They tried to get back to dry land so they wouldn’t have to throw him overboard, but it was impossible. So they picked him up and threw him into the sea, and the scripture says, in the same sentence, “the sea ceased from its raging” Then it say God appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah up. Hold up, okay so God appointed a great fish. He instructed a fish to go and swallow Jonah! That’s mind blowing! Okay back to the story. Jonah stays in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights.

Now when I’ve seen this story depicted in picture books and things of that sort, it made it look like Jonah was in a motel. But I don’t think it was that way at all, I’ve never been in the belly of a fish and I don’t plan on it. Most people in the belly of fishes are dead so no thank you. But Jonah wasn’t dead, that’s a miracle in itself, God allowed a fish to swallow him but not kill him. Leave to God to do something miraculous like that, that only He can do. But Jonah is in the belly of this fish, and I imagine it’s dark, probably slimy and wet, very uncomfortable. But Jonah is in the belly of the whale and it is there that he starts praying, and it was then that God ordered the fish to somit Jonah up. After that experience Jonah then goes to Nineveh to do what God told him to do from the very beginning.

I think many of us know what it’s like to not only run from God but encounter Him in the midst of our running. We, like Jonah, often have to go through the hard times in order to learn. Growing up my parents would often let us make mistakes fr ourselves so that we can learn from them because telling us wasn’t enough we had to experience it in order to take their word for it. This is a common thing within humanity. Why is that so, why do we have to bump our heads to see that it hurts. Why do we have to take a detour before we realize that the straight path was there all along. Some people may disagree with me when I say this, but experience produces growth in many cases. Sometimes we have to fall to know that we can get back up. Sometimes we have to experience bad things in order to know what is good. I think God use the very disobedience of Jonah to have an encounter with him, to get his attention. There was no one else he could talk to but God while in the belly of the fish, No one else. We sometimes cause detours and bring certain things upon ourselves, we run away from God, but He will not let us get too far, even if that means taking drastic measure like causing a whole person to be swallowed by a fish. When we read the scripture we will see that Jonah never made it to Tarshish, he set out to go to a place God told him not to but his plan was intercepted. We might try to run away from God but He sees us and HE sees what we are trying to do and He will step right in and block it because He knows that his plan is better than whatever it is we are trying to do.

Response

Today I want you to read the book of Jonah or at least the first three chapters, and read what was talked about today, and responds. There is no prompt today. After that, have a conversation with god, talk to him about whatever is on your heart.

I love you and I hope you have an amazing day or evening. Share this with someone and be sure to come back tomorrow for day 127!

Day 39: You Are Not Alone

1 Peter 5:8-9

Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.  Stand firm against him, and be strong in your faith. Remember that your family of believers all over the world is going through the same kind of suffering you are.

Today is going to be short, sweet, and to the point. As I mentioned yesterday, we will face a lot of hard times in our lives, some will feel like the end of the world. One of the results of these hard times is feeling alone, feeling like no one else understands because they aren’t going through it. We sometimes get down and start to throw ourselves pity parties because we feel like we’re the only ones in the world who is facing this certain battle. We feel like no one else can relate to us, they don’t get it. They can’t tell us what to do because they’re not in our shoes. Maybe they aren’t now but they have been.

We as young people don’t like to show our faces when there less than perfect. What I mean by that is, when we are going through a rough time, we hide it, or we isolate ourselves. We either feel like we have to face it alone or we would rather face it on our own. We even try to hide from God, as if He doesn’t already know what’s going on.  

I can honestly say that I am guilty of this. I catch myself saying, even now, “I would rather go through it alone because I don’t want to bring anyone down with my mess.” I’ve been at a point in my life where all I did was feel sorry for myself because I felt no one understood what I was going through. I felt alone, and isolated myself because in my small little world of me, I was the only one who had troubles.

-Dyamond

As the body of Christ we do not have to suffer alone. One of the greatest comforts is knowing that no matter where we are, or what we’re going through God is always there. Even when we feel like we cannot turn to anyone, or no one will listen, God is always listening.

Though my father and mother forsake me, the LORD will receive me. (Psalms 27:10)

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 47:10)

Ephesians 6:18

In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

We are to pray for one another lift each other up. That’s what the body of Christ does. We rejoice together and we suffer together, (1 Cor. 12:24-26) you are not alone. Know that there is someone praying for you. Always.

There are two main points that I want to communicate to you today:

1. You’re not the only one going through what you’re going through. I know it feels that way but people have been where you are. People are in the same place you are. many people have walked the path you are on, find comfort in the fact that it doesn’t last forever.
2. You are not alone (I can’t stress this enough). This is why community is so important. When we go through hard times we tend to isolate ourselves, but you don’t have to do it alone. We cannot pick up your cross and carry it for you, but we can pick it up and  help (Matt. 27:32). We can pray, we can give you a shoulder, and we can just be there (Job 2:13). The body of Christ must stick together. You are not alone. Remember that.
   
   

Reflection

Today just write a response, take the time to write down what you’re feeling, you might be feeling alone, and you might be in the family, but know that your brothers and sisters are rooting for you, we’re praying for you, and God is right there with you. We love you.

Prayer Time

Reveal to God whatever is on your heart today. Talk to Him about it, find comfort in His arms and rest in His peace. Know that you are love, and no matter where you are God is never far away, He’s is always as close as you allow Him to be.

Maybe you’re not feeling alone or going through a hard time right now, pray for your brothers and sisters who are, lift them up. If you know them personally pray with them, let them know that you are always there.

I love you, have and AMAZING day. Tell someone you love them today and mean it. Make sure you come back tomorrow for Day 40!