It is not often in our lives that we know exactly what God’s will is for us, the path on which He Himself has set us...
It is not often in our lives that we know exactly what God’s will is for us, the path on which He Himself has set us and on which He will help us. But sometimes this does happen. Such understanding comes at least once in every person’s life. Sometimes we do not dare to follow this path. The reasons may differ, and in one person’s life all these different reasons may be intertwined. We may not love ourselves, and out of this lack of love sink into false humility and conclude, ‘I am too sinful,’ ‘not good enough to fulfill this will of God for me.’ It may be fear of other people, fear that they will not accept this path. But beneath all these reasons for indecision there is, in fact, one problem: unbelief.
It turns out that we do not believe God created us good enough to do His will, or that He created other people good enough to accept our path, even a very unusual one. Nor do we believe that even if we encounter serious difficulties and trials, including those arising from clashes with other people, this too is part of the path. Ultimately, we do not believe that God will sustain us in a difficult moment, that He will be with us in these trials. He is always near, but if we follow the path He has prepared especially for us, it is easier to sense His presence and help. Sometimes, however, unbelief, fears, and doubts become so deafening that, like Jonah, we choose to flee. Then God has no option but to send us into the belly of a whale. This is not punishment. It is the only way to get through to us. Inside the ‘whale’ there are no external influences: it is dark and quiet, there is no one but oneself, and even God seems very far away. Yet one cannot perish inside the ‘whale’ either: one will not drown, the whale swims well, and it is warm and secure… Such a ‘whale’ may be a serious and prolonged, but not fatal, illness, or depression. In short, a situation in which we feel very little, are extremely lonely, and have to look honestly at ourselves and our lives.
Then we can see that we have lost our way, understand that the loving Lord was waiting on the path we abandoned, call on Him for help as Jonah did, find the resolve to follow Him—and become free.
2 Jonah's prayer and deliverance.
2:7 Thine holy temple - Heaven, the temple of his glory, whence God gives the command for his delivery.