In the Belly of a Whale?

Hardships are part of human struggles.  Hardships are there for us to be tested, by which we rise above and become stronger, bolder, braver and character-wise richer individuals.  However, many times when we face hardships, we notice a trend such as "my life isn't going anywhere no matter what I do or try".  This is quite true for all of us at some point or the other.  There are people who have made huge changes based on this revelation and have come through with flying colors, literally.

Is your life's journey heading on the right path, or do you seem as though you are still struggling with no solutions?  Perhaps it might be because you are heading to Jaffa instead of Nineveh.  Jaffa?  Nineveh?  Yep... Jaffa instead of Nineveh.  Stay with me.  Jonah was instructed to go to Nineveh to preach the Word of God.  But he chose to go in the exact opposite direction instead... and headed to Jaffa (by sea).  You discern whether what he did was right or wrong.  The journey he took was not successful, and to make matters worse, he was thrown into the sea where he was swallowed up by a big fish... presumably a whale.  There he stayed for three days in the belly of the whale before he was finally out; but only AFTER he had repented and agreed to go the route the Lord planned. And he was happy. 

Has your life been thrown into the tempestuous sea of roaring waves and swift currents only to be swallowed up by whales and sharks?  Think about it.  Does it seem that you have landed in the belly of a whale?  Stagnant and with no fresh air?  Suffocating while trying to live through the struggles?  Yes, think about it...  if you have landed in the belly of a whale, so to speak, that means that you are given another chance.  All is not lost in life.  Stop with what you are doing right now and re-prioritize what's really necessary for your life.  It's perhaps God's way of telling you that you are on the wrong route and its time for you to repent and head back 180 degrees.   

Ask the Lord which path he wants you to take.  Ask the Lord to direct your path.  And more than anything, thank God for all the hardships that we face in life, for it is one way by which we hear the Lord speak to us, either commending us for being obedient to His call or with prompts that we've deviated and have to get back on track.  Yes, praise God for all the hardships we face... knowing that we get closer to the heart of God by our repentant response to His warnings.