Jonah

    What happened to Jonah? His story stops so abruptly. Jonah is left, presumably sitting in a dry, desert-like place with only a dead plant to keep him company. 

    In my heart of hearts, I am sure he didn't stay there long. I believe that Jonah contemplated for a few minutes, or hours, or maybe even days, and then picked himself up and struck off for home where he could see his family again. Perhaps he headed back into Nineveh to offer advice and teaching. Maybe he started a food bank or an orphanage. I have no idea what Jonah did. The important thing is that he got up and moved on.

    We are faced with all sorts of situations that seem beyond us. We feel like we've been left sitting in a dry place, sometimes without even the company of a dead plant. At that point, our human nature wants to give up. What's the point of trying?

    That is the moment when it is vitally important to grasp hope. We can't allow ourselves to stay sulking in the desert. We owe it to the God who created us to get up and move on.

    Our pride doesn't want us to go. Our humanness rebels at accepting the things we face, but we are beckoned forward by humility. In accepting the gentle reproofs of the Spirit, there will be grace to get up and get going. 

    With God you can take the next step. You can mend relationships, you can head to the mission, you can find a deeper commitment. Leave your pride in the desert with the decaying remnants of your failures and rise to the challenge of tomorrow. There is a future of hope waiting for you if you will lift your head, raise your heart, and strike out with purpose for tomorrow.