I saw something not too long ago that said “You thought you ruined God’s plan, trust me you’re not that powerful.” That was a comforting thought for me, because I have been certain on more occasions than a few that I have ruined God’s plan for my life. I have not followed my calling, I have not gone when I was told, and I have done the opposite of what a good Christian would do on many occasions. When thinking about that I was reminded of the story of Jonah.
Jonah 1:1-2 The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgement against it because I have seen how wicked it’s people are.” The Bible goes on to say Jonah got up and went the other way. Jonah has a book named after him in the Bible, that tells the story of how he tried to ruin God’s plan by going the opposite way. The book goes on to tell how God fulfilled his plan, through Jonah, in spite of Jonah.
That’s when I realized God’s plan will be fulfilled regardless of our desire. He will use us a tool in the best cases, or as an example if you should choose to follow the wrong path. I have followed that wrong path, I have been that example. We are given free will and are allowed to mess up, to go astray, but God’s purpose for our life never changes, and neither does his love for us.
I have been in terribly dark holes struggling with my purpose, doubting his plan, and questioning his love for me. When I think back to those times now I realize I was in a season of disbelief and was following my plan with complete disregard for his. My human brain could not fathom how his plan would be any better than mine because I thought that he had left me in the dark. He had not left, his light had not dimmed, his love for me had never changed. What changed was my perspective and my focus. I was focused on the worldly desires of a weak man.
He had given me free will, he had allowed me to not be a tool for spreading his Love and his great name, in doing so he had used me as an example. He had allowed me to see the dark, to feel the cold, and to doubt his love. In this season I was an example of how not to be. How not to be happy, how not to feel loved, how to not feel good enough, and how not to be a Christian. Even in the dark and the doubt he never stopped loving me, he never stopped wanting to use me, he never loved me any less, and he never left me.
If you’re feeling like and example it’s never too late to change. Jonah was swallowed by a huge fish and spit out on dry land after being in the belly of the beast. He did the opposite of what God had told him, but God loved him enough to give him another chance. He loves us the exact same. Jonah even through it all was used as a tool to spread the word and the love of God.
God is going to use you, it is up to you HOW.
I Love You!
bradglenn79 