And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. Jonah 2:10 (NIV)
Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” Jonah obeyed the word of the Lord and went to Nineveh. Now Nineveh was a very large city; it took three days to go through it. – Jonah 3:1-3 (NIV)
The story of Jonah is about a prophet who hears from the Lord to tell people in a city called Nineveh that God is displeased with them. He tried to run from his assignment by entering a boat that was headed a different direction from where God sent him. Rather than go to Nineveh, he wanted to go to Tarshish. Jonah got thrown from the boat into a raging storm in the middle of the sea and was swallowed by a large fish.
At some point, Jonah was physically, emotionally and mentally not in a place God wanted him to be. This resulted in him crying out to God in the belly of the fish. He was in the belly of the fish for three days and three nights (Matthew 12:40). After crying out to God, the large fish let Jonah out on dry land (Jonah Chapter 2). God forgave him and restored his assignment.
Jonah went through many things that he did not have to go through, but God still showed him mercy and grace to get him back on track.
You may be in a place right now where you know you are off track. Jonah experienced the same thing. When you get to the end of yourself and realize your error in disobeying God and walking contrary to His word for your life, God still has a plan to get you back on track if indeed you would cry out to Him for mercy.
If you are “off track” and you want to get back on track, cry out in surrender to God this moment. God is faithful. He will reposition you and restore you just like He did for Jonah.
2nd Corinthians 6:2: In the Scriptures God says, “When the time came, I listened to you, and when you needed help, I came to save you.” That time has come. This is the day for you to be saved. (CEV)
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, I thank you because You died for me so that I could live. You rose again from the dead so that I might be set free. Lord, I know that I have been off track. I know that I have not been doing what you would have me to do and ask for your forgiveness and mercy today. I ask for redirection and realignment just as you did for Jonah. Help me live daily according to your plan for my life in Jesus name. Amen.