by Cathy Vinson

It was a destined foreshadowing: Jonah was GOING to spend three days and nights in the belly of a whale. As unworthy as Jonah's actions were, his experience would become a type of the glorious Saviour's. (Mt 12:40) Yet in the midst of the moment of panic, the "best" thing to do was to return this man to Joppa, not throw him overboard.

Repeated ripples of biceps, clench-fisted rowing of seasoned sailors...man's best; man's best effort. Interesting that the more fevered the pitch, the wilder the sea grew. God was meeting them with a standard at each higher juncture of effort. Finally realizing this, they resigned themselves saying, "...YOU, O Lord, have done what YOU pleased." (Jonah 1:14)

Does this sound familiar? Are you pushing forward panting, "C'mon, let's just push this one on through!"? Is there a crisis point where you, with the sailors, will finally say "You, God, are not letting my efforts succeed!"

Like Jonah, your vision may be too small. God's plan is to reveal the King of kings through your personal history, and you want merely to get back to the land!

Stand there. Though painful, acknowledge what little of value is truly being accomplished in your pushing. Trust that by surrendering to His Lordship

"He may lead you to DO things and BE things that you would have never dreamed of."

(Quote-Henry Blackaby)

Jonah 1:13