One question bothers us as human beings more than any other.  It is the one that asks why do bad things happen to good people?  Few of us get through life without posing that question at least once.  Some use it as an excuse of sorts to deal honestly with God.  Some ask it in the midst of a moment that brings more pain than we can bear.  Most of us know the emotions involved that tear away at our core.  We are not at all the first individuals to have such concerns.  We are also not the first ones to wrestle with the ideas involved.  I mention this as we look to Jonah this week.  Here is a prophet of God being confronted with some very bad experiences in his journey.  He once spoke to kings and now he is faced with storms then a really big fish.  We would do well to learn from his crisis of faith.

There are times when our difficulties are self inflicted.  You and I make mistakes or even sin in ways that lead to troubled times.  Wanting those troubles are far different than our mindset going into making our choices.  David didn't want problems but he did desire Bathsheba.  Connecting the dots from that point really isn't too hard.  Other times we may find our problems are situational.  Perhaps we are innocent from those poor decisions or sin but someone else does it for us.  How often do we get swept up in the wake of another individuals decisions?  There may even be times they are satanic in origin.  Job faces an overwhelming trial by fire that has such roots.  Be sure that if you mature in your faith that times like these are coming.  The last idea is that some are spiritual.  Now it is true that a follower of Jesus would want God to lead, guide and the like in any moment.  Just also know that God may work the circumstances of your life so your heart grows even more sensitive to Him.  Those who grow in faith are also candidates for God to continue working in your life even when painful.  Jonah is aware of most if not all of these reasons.  His story helps us face our worst moments. 

Every trial is an occasion to turn to God in ways you never knew before.  Each  problem offers great opportunity to become more of God's person.  How we handle those times will tell us a great deal about who we are and where we need to be.  Some of what we learn is opposite of Jonah's approach.  His heart does not yield immediately to God's action.  The storm comes upon his ship but he offers no evidence of repentance.  Just remember that our problems are not always meant to be permanent.  Some believers end up so wrapped up in their own world that they forget to look beyond the situation.  Our great hope is not the end of our problem.  Jonah reminds us that our best comes from a living encounter with God.  This takes him a long time to learn.  Let's hope our heart will be more open than his.

Bro. Trey