Light in Dark Places

It is interesting to me how bad things always seems to be worse than good things seem to be good. Everyone would agree that we like good things better than bad things, but when we are faced with both in our life… we choose to set our focus on the bad, and at times even flat out ignore the good.

I am teaching a Bible study on the book of Jonah right now, and in my readings this morning I came across a quote from G. Campbell Morgan which said, “Men have been looking so hard at the great fish that they have failed to see the great God.” This wise point seems to apply, at least to me, to so much more than just the book of Jonah. As I have been reading the little book over and over again, I have been amazed by only one thing about the story’s anti-hero. Jonah does everything wrong and is portrayed as the worst prophet there could have ever been, but he shines in one area that I cannot. There he is lying in the belly of the big fish… and he isn’t even focusing on it. He doesn’t sing a song to the “grossness of the fish” but a song to the “greatness of God.” The story of Jonah brings light to the dark place of the fish’s belly.

Now, don’t get me wrong, I don’t think Jonah enjoyed being in the fish… I know I don’t. But I think Jonah remembered that he did enjoy being in the presence of the Lord which he was fleeing from. I am not fleeing from him, but maybe I forget how much I enjoy being where He wants me… because I’m not sure this is it.

But there is light and good here. I couldn’t begin to tell you how much I am learning about me and people and God and the church (and coffee). There are these 5 or 6 teenagers that come every Tuesday night to listen to me talk about the Kingdom of God and I think they are getting it, this one girl who is going to be a great pastor one day just soaks it all in which tears in her eyes the whole time I’m talking. I was her once and it was great! I have coffee with this guy once a week and we talk about his marriage and his relationship with God and his life is changing. I don’t know if this was where I was supposed to be or not, but even if it is just by God’s consequential will… I’m still doing a little good I guess. He keeps giving me little encouragements here and there with job offers I know aren’t right for me but it is nice to get them anyway… and the one place I really want to go hasn’t told me no yet so I’m holding tight to that little bit of hope.

Maybe the fish really isn’t as big as I think it is… or maybe it is and God is just that much bigger than I thought He was. Either way, I really hope I can see Him more than I have… and these next couple months pass as fast as they can.