Swallowed By a Fish- Tough Truth to Swallow

^{When I was young, I  thought the "being swallowed by a big whale" was the punishment for Jonah's disobedience.} 

 

 ^{Haha... what a time out!}

^{When I learned, however the fish was act of love and sent by God to rescue Jonah, I was disturbed.}

^{How many things, people, problems and events do I consider my punishment, when in all reality...they are an act of love sent by God?}

^{A tough truth to swallow.}

^{When my kids are struggling, I want it fixed.  Now.  I want someone, somewhere and somehow to help them and fix it.  I want to fix it.} 

^{My heart wants to make the pain go away.  Take away the problems and the chaos and the uncertainty.}   

^{Truthfully, they have a choice to obey or not obey.  Just like I do.  Just like you do.}  

^{God is trying to provide for them.  Provide a way back to His presence.} 

^{Just as He does for me.  Daily.} 

^{Today, I shut the door, the phone and the world for a few hours.  I've rested.  I've prayed.  I've written.  Soon, I'm going to go to the garden to pray.}  

^{I'm stopping running, fixing, worrying and chasing... for today.}  

^{God provided a whale and I'm going to be thankful and Praise His Amazing Name!!!!}

^1:17 Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.