Overboard!

I have written many times about the storms of life. For example, deaths of loved ones or illness and relationship problems and the like. Many of these things are outside of our control. The only thing we can control is our response to these troubles. There is however an example in Gods word of a storm that was happening directly as a result of the disobedience of one man. His name was Jonah. You know. He’s the guy swallowed by the fish. Before that though we learn in chapter one of Jonah that God told him to go to Nineveh and warn them that they were sinning and to repent. Now Jonah didn’t like those folks there and so he decided to run the other way. He pays for a ride on a boat going the opposite direction and when they got out on the journey a violent storm comes. It is ripping the boat apart and everyone was praying to their gods; except Jonah. He was asleep. Now the boat captain had already thrown everything overboard to lighten the load and the storm just kept getting worse so he wakes Jonah up and tells him to pray to his God. Did he? Nope! He tells them that he is causing the storm because he was running from God and to throw him into the sea. Well eventually they did although they didn’t want to and immediately the storm subsided. The men on the boat believed and made vows to Jonah’s God.
Have you ever been disobedient to God and all those around you have felt the results of the storm you have caused? I have. My family suffered because of my disobedience and from my running from God. It has been a painful lesson but one I’ll never forget. When Jesus calls you, don’t run! He will do what it takes to bring you back to him! It is better to run to Jesus and not from him!!
Another lesson here is to be careful who you let onto your boat!
Dear Lord, thank you for your word and the lessons we can learn. Thank you for never letting us go but doing what it takes to call us to obedience to you.

You are never safer than being right in the middle of Gods will for you!

Love y’all