Needy and Discontent

Some days start with someone hitting the overwhelm button where my kids go into “Needy and Discontent Mode.” I react by becoming angry drill sergeant saying things like, “sit and eat now, ““put these pants on, I can’t help you, because ____.” It gets worse as they try to wiggle free from My Ways with, “I don’t like this food" and "I don’t want these undies."

This morning I managed to flatten flying hairs with my spit, put out rain coats, collect my son’s library books to return, and include fruit on David’s breakfast plate. In the last week I have been memorizing Jonah 2 and it haunts me with both Jonah’s prophetic calling, his own running from that. God literally has a fish eat Jonah up and then Jonah in a very dark space, clearly sees and turns to God. I think that is my story too, as over and over I run and get swallowed and then turn again towards God. I love in Jonah’s prayer how his words go from a general God to a personal one!

           

Jonah 2 (NASV) 

Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish, and he said,

“I called out of my

distress to the Lord,

And He answered me.

I cried for help from the

depths of Sheol;

You heard my voice.

“For You had cast me into

the deep,

Into the heart of the seas,

And the current engulfed me.

All Your breakers and

billows passed over me.

So I said, I have been

expelled from Your sight.

Nevertheless I will look

again toward Your

holy temple.

Water encompassed me

to the point of death.

The great deep engulfed me,

Weeds were wrapped

around my head.

“I descended to the roots

of the mountain.

The earth with its bars

was around me forever,

But You have brought up

my life from the pit,

Oh Lord my God.

While I was fainting away,

I remembered the Lord

And my prayer came to You,

Into your holy temple.

“Those who regard vain idols Forsake their faithfulness,

But I will sacrifice to You

With the voice of thanksgiving.

That which I have vowed

I will pay.

Salvation is from the Lord.”

Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.