A Day at the Beach
Jonah cried from the belly of the whale. God heard Jonah's cry and allowed him to be released from the whale's belly. Where did Jonah land when the fish spit him out? Yes, it was a beach, but Jonah didn't just lay there and soak in the sun. He finally figured out God had plans for him. His life wasn't meant to be a day at the beach. He got up and went to nearby Nineveh where God had told him to go in the first place. If Jonah had obeyed God, he most likely would never have seen the inside of a whale's belly.
In the past few weeks, I have compared myself to Job as well as Jonah. Even though our trials are nothing compared to their's, those two usually come to mind as we say, "Woe is me." As I thought of Jonah again, I thought of places God had told me to go and promises I had made to Him. I once signed a pledge at a church camp. It said, "I am willing to be willing to go." I was sincerely willing to go, but my youthful days left and life happened quickly. I thought of the 'where' I was willing to go then as a geographical location. I imagined going to far away lands and working for Jesus. Now I realize the place God has in mind for us to go isn't always a geographical location. We each have a place in God we need to reach. In our spirits, we know exactly where it is and who it is God desires for us to be. We need to daily strive to reach that place as we work for Jesus. As I fell asleep I once again told God, "I am willing to be willing to go." And I am sincerely willing to go. It's funny how we usually always end up where God wanted us in the first place. For some reason, we choose to do things our own way. We face trials and tribulations, and finally, figure out this life isn't just a day at the beach. We get up and go where God tells us. He has a plan for our lives. If we learn to obey, who knows what ugly things we may avoid having to see. We must live and learn just like Jonah did, life really isn't meant to be just a day at the beach.