There are two readings for today.
SCRIPTURE: Jonah 2
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
You hurled me into the depths, into the very heart of the seas, and the currents swirled about me; all your waves and breakers swept over me. I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight; yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’ [Jonah 2:3-4]
Notice how Jonah sees it as God’s will that he is in the depths, and then he turns to the very God that put him there for help.
Instead of getting angry or bitter, he becomes humble and dependent.
Though God has banished him, he looks to God for mercy.
Keep in mind why God banished him, and how God is not being cruel but is actually helping Jonah by leading him through the depths.
Jonah is finally realizing that surrender to God and His will is better than resistance.
He withdrew about a stone’s throw beyond them, knelt down and prayed, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground. [Luke 22:41-44]
Jesus also submits to God’s will, even though it means intense suffering.
He knows that resistance is futile; instead of looking away from the God that is allowing Him to suffer, He looks up to God for hope and help and strength.
Not my will, but yours be done. [Luke 22:42]
We believe that God is good.
We believe that this world was also one time good, but we have made it into a world of misery by running away from God and His will.
The extreme grief and hardship that people experience in this world is not first of all because God made it this way (He didn’t), but because we did, by our choices.
The only way out of this mess is to turn back to God and surrender to Him and His will.
Running away from God will not make life easier, it will make it harder.
When we realize this, and like Jesus submit ourselves to God, then though we may still go through a time of hardship, He will bring us out on the other side.
God has not abandoned us to the misery and folly of our choices; He is intervening and doing what He can to rescue and restore us.
But we need to be willing partners in this; we need to repent, to submit and to obey.
We need to say with Jesus, not my will, but yours be done. [Luke 22:42]
This will not instantaneously fix all that is wrong in our lives, but it will change the overall direction of our lives, and one day He will bring us to the other side.
Pray this prayer with Jesus, look with Jonah to the holy temple (i.e. to God in heaven), entrust your life and future to Him, and He will bring you up from the depths.
When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to you, to your holy temple. [Jonah 2:7]
PRAYER:
Lord, I need this reminder to pray this daily prayer, not my will, but yours be done. [Luke 22:42] I remember You, and my prayer rises up to You!