When was the last really bad day you had? I mean the Alexander kind (the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day).
Do you have that day in mind?
Ok, now a little perspective: did you happen to be up to your neck in seaweed and stomach acid? Were you the cause of a bad case of indigestion for a big ol’ fish?
I didn’t think so. So, let’s agree that none of us has really had a day that compares with Jonah. And he had three of them. And just in case we are still not sure that he wins the “bad day” competition, let’s also remember how his belly time-out ended:
Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land. (Jonah 2:10, New American Standard Bible)
Did you catch that? VOM-I-TED! But I want you to notice something that Jonah said while he was in the belly of the fish.
As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple … I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfil all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone. (Jonah 2:7,9, New Living Translation)
In reality, it’s not a competition. Bad days are bad days and it doesn’t really help us to realize that someone else’s day has been worse. We don’t need a better perspective on suffering nearly as much as we need a better perspective on where to take our suffering. Jonah turned to God in prayer, in commitment, and in worship. We can, too.
Perspective on suffering is not as important as perspective on where to take our suffering. Click To Tweet
Question: How will refocus your bad days?
