Jonah - Suffering & Redemption!
When pounded by hardship, both petulance and rage thrust their fists skywards to the good Lord. (Jonah would set the measure of this response in chapter 4 of his too brief autobiography.)
Yet - the wise will gaze long to heaven to hear God's words, and not just be heard by Him.
The choice is always - to make the most of suffering, and not the least.
Use the darkness to seek the Lord, and you will find Him.
As with Jonah when first retired by God to the belly of a whale, seek the heights rather than lament the depths. Even the darkness of a great fish's belly could not prevent Jonah lifting his eyes and heart to the Lord.
From within that great fish Jonah spoke:
When my life was ebbing away, I remembered you, LORD, and my prayer rose to You, to Your holy temple. (Jonah 2:7)
Looking up in suffering redeems not only you, but a 'city'.
Jonah redeemed his hidden three days through prayer and praise. Thus, this time-out in the whale led to his redemption and the redemption of a city (Nineveh).
The second chance that follows suffering is always a second chance too for others.
Suffering is redeemed when I first trust God in all the darkness. It is there I will be powerfully equipped by Him when He hurls me yet again into the light.
Today's Soul Snippet:
"If you are 'in' with God, you are 'out' with the world." ~ Rodney Smith
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