Help Me…

There is an old gospel song that goes a little something like this,

Oh Lord I want You to help me,

Oh Lord I want You to help me

Help me on my journey,

help me on my way

Oh Lord I want You to help me.

Whether our journey is short or long, God has promised to be with us along the way to help us, to teach us, to provide for us and to protect us. As believers, these promises should lead us through each day. Throughout the Holy Bible, we read many instances that validate these promises. As with Jonah, although he tried to run away from the assignment God had given him to warn the people of Nineveh, God still protected him.

Jonah boarded a ship to Spain in an attempt to avoid his assignment. As God's wrath began to address Jonah's disobedience by troubling the sea, Jonah asked the men on the boat to throw him overboard to save themselves from God’s wrath that his disobedience had caused. However, when they threw him into the sea, rather than allowing him to drown as he had hoped, God sent a big fish to swallow him up. He protected Jonah from himself and his bad decisions by hiding him within the belly of the fish. Jonah prayed and cried out to God and God commanded the fish to cough Jonah up on land.

After Jonah had delivered the message God instructed him to deliver to the people in Nineveh, he settled outside the city to watch to see what God would do. While he watched and waited, God made a vine grow up around Jonah to shield him from the sun. Johan still had his moments when he didn’t understand God’s plan to save and draw the people of Nineveh back to Him and he questioned God. Meanwhile, the people repented and prayed to God for forgiveness and God chose not to destroy the city. Jonah then got angry with God because God didn't do what Jonah expected. God's plans are always beyond our understanding and expectations.

This was a lesson of God’s mercy and the gift of another chance that is available to ALL. Within that lesson was also a lesson of provisions. God provided shade for Jonah while he sat in the sun and He also provided what the people of Nineveh needed most, a way back to Him. God had not left them nor had He left Jonah. God’s promise to never leave us nor forsake us is true even when we have been disobedient to His Word. God used this assignment to teach Jonah the importance of obedience to Him. Jonah also learned the ramifications of our disobedience. God confirmed to Jonah that He is always present and His protection includes protection even from ourselves.

God has a lesson for us in every experience. The lessons are revealed and made clear when we spend time praying and allowing God to show us what we need to know. He will allow experiences that will confirm His mercy while teaching us to show mercy and forgiveness with others. He will shower us with experiences that train us to trust Him to provide our every need. And He is faithful to protect us, even when it means protecting us from ourselves. All we have to do is obey Him and Believe that HE IS THE ALMIGHTY GOD. His love never ceases to do all He has promised. He is always available to HELP ME.