“The waters surrounded me, even to my soul; the deep closed around me; weeds wrapped around my head.” Jonah 2:5
The Deep
Quite a picture, huh? Swirling waters and weeds wrapped around our heads? I’ve been in that deep abyss more times than I care to count. And how did I get there? Well, just like Jonah, I had quit listening to God.
I’d believed the lie that God is just too far away, so why bother to quiet myself to hear Him, I mean really hear Him? Immersed in busyness, it’s quicker and safer just to read my Bible chapter “from a distance.” Oh, yes, this can be done quite easily. All the while I’m hiding those scars, those wounds that need the Healer’s touch.
I guess I’m afraid God is going to pick off an ugly scab and reveal something even more awful. This could hurt, I think to myself. Ouch! Oh, there will be some blood. Definitely! But what I forget is this—the only blood that shows up is the cleansing Blood of Jesus our Savior.
Personally, I’ve been downright mad lately. It reminds me of when I was a teenager, with so much anger at my parents. In my rebellion against their authority in my life, everyone else around me got the blame for my woeful condition; my anger was palpable. As an adult, that kind of grown-up anger can do some big damage—to lots of people! God forgive me!
We have to let God rearrange the furniture, throw some stuff out. After all, it’s His house; the benefits are life changing. Like Jonah in the belly of the great fish, I was thankful when, “The Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land” (Jonah 2:10). (Vomit? Ewww!) But that’s where I’d rather be any day.
“Lord, forgive us for ignoring the places in our hearts that need Your loving touch. Sometimes we’re goofier than Jonah, for sure. We think we know best, but really we’re just a bunch of seaweed-soaked saints that need You so desperately. Thank You for patiently waiting for us to see what You’ve known and seen for so long. Amen!”