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Now Yahweh's word came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, 'Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and preach against it, for their wickedness has come up before me.' But Jonah rose up to flee to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. He went down to Joppa, and found a ship going to Tarshish; so he paid its fare, and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish from the presence of Yahweh. Jonah 1:1-3 WEB.

The Lord told Jonah to go and preach to Nineveh. But Jonah boarded a ship and sailed to Tarshish, about 2,500 miles in the opposite direction. Soon a terrible storm overtook them, and after much debate, Jonah was cast into the raging sea to calm the storm.

As Jonah was drowning there with seaweed wrapped around his head, a great fish God had prepared for this occasion came by and swallowed him up. After sitting there in the dark for a while, Jonah came to his senses as the prodigal son had. He could see clearly now! He began to pray while sitting inside the belly of that fish, and soon it spits him out on dry land.

This time Jonah went to Nineveh, and the message he brought saved 120,000 people. Everyone in Jonah's book did what God wanted, even the fish and the heathens. Everyone except His prophet, Jonah.

Has there ever been a time when the Lord wanted you to do something, but you did the exact opposite? I have. We usually know right from wrong but choose to enjoy sin for a while anyway. Even the apostle Paul said, "For I don't understand what I am doing. For I don't practice what I desire to do, but what I hate, that I do" (Romans 7:15).

If you are like me, you have probably been in the storm before and felt like you were drowning, tangled up in bad stuff, and ready to throw in the towel. We start to think, "If only I had listened, I wouldn't be here."

Just remember, it is not over or too late to make a change. You can pray to the Lord from the dark place you are in, and He will restore you. He can help you find the pathway out. Then He will use you to save others, just as He did with Jonah, just as He has done with me.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your mercy and grace and for sparing me from things I have well earned. Please set my feet on the solid rock and give me a clear vision going forward. Help me stand steadfast and fulfill Your will in my life. In the name of Jesus Christ, I pray. Amen!

Note: Ladies, today is Thankful Thursday at the "Ladies in Distress" group (our RHM women's group)! You are welcome to join in our weekly sharing of thankfulness for the Lord's presence and any blessings you may have experienced, big or small! "Ladies in Distress" is a private group, so if you have any problems joining, just post anywhere and we will help you :). Here is the link: Ladies in Distress

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