Much of life remains a mystery.  We kid ourselves imagining how smart we are.  Remember my Grandfather Fischer’s heavy German-accented comment to his three sons–‘Smart like your father, you dope you!’  How true, sad to say.

On the other hand, if we could only see from God’s perspective.  Then we wouldn’t need faith anymore.  We’d know.  No doubts.  No hemming-and-hawing about God’s will.  We’d know.

Reading Jonah 2, a question pops into my mind.  When Jonah’s in the belly of the great fish, is he aware of where he is?  Does he have a clue?  His prayer makes no reference to safety in the fish.

Possibly he’s barely conscious, after being submerged in the Mediterranean for a bit.  Panicked.  Flailing for dear life, which ebbs away.

But then he awakes in a strange, probably smelly, sort of gooey, claustrophobic place.  Certainly the fish had no welcome mat out for Jonah.  No backdoor light left on.  No AAA maps or apps on his not-so-smart faux phone.  No concierge to ask where he’s at.

So he turns to the One who’s never far away, never out of reach.  To his God–‘In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.  From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry’ (Jonah 2:2).  Possibly unaware of his locale, yet he knows where help always can be found–with his Lord God.

Often I’ve no idea what God wants me to do.  He doesn’t say.  Oh yes, on the big issues, like His commandments.  Or how He’d like my attitude to be.  And what productive ‘fruit’ He wishes me to harvest.  But with other things, really most, He remains quiet.

But what He does want us to know is that He’s always at work for the best (Rom. 8:28).  Got it?  I struggle to accept that.  Hard to get securely into my thick skull.

So, trust Him anyway, as best you can.  Only takes a smidgeon, the smallest seed of faith.  And maybe He’ll show us, in hindsight, His hand at work.  Maybe.  But if not, let’s lean on Him no matter what or where or how or why.  I’m game.

Have the very best week.  You know why!

Thank you, Lord, for not giving up on your own.  In Jesus’ name.   Amen.