Trying to live a Christian life can be met with lots of pressure. There is always the pressure of doing the right thing at all times, appearing to be a "good Christian." If you make a mistake there will be people to tell you about yourself in a heartbeat. Then there is the praise that comes from doing well (rather, what other people think is "doing well"). It's so easy to get caught up in man's good graces, rather than focusing on what it means to be a Christian.
It's so easy to criticize others and weigh them against God's word, but have we really taken a closer look at what the Bible teaches? Is it just a collection of inspirational stories that we can insert our personal circumstances into and draw metaphorical strength on what God promised an ancient people?
No. Everything in the Bible should point to God's faithfulness to His people. We are not to focus only on the people themselves. These people that God has chosen had issues. David killed a man for his wife. Jacob had a child with his wife's servant instead of trusting in God's promise of becoming the father of many nations. Not to mention the whole polygamy thing they had going on.... The list of transgressions is endless!
Today, however, let's talk about the prophet Jonah. We all know the story about Jonah being swallowed by a whale and spit out after three days. Let's take a closer look at this man and how he basically had a bad attitude toward God and other people.
Why was Jonah swallowed by a fish? Because he ran away from what God called him to do. God specifically told Jonah to speak to the people of Nineveh and tell them of the doom that was coming because of their sins. Jonah refused. Decided to go to Tarshish instead! He jumped on a boat and took a nap. God sent a storm that prevented the boat from making it to dry land. The men in the boat all cried out to their gods, with the hope of being saved. They woke Jonah up and told him to pray also. They even cast lots to find out who was causing this calamity on them and the lot fell on Jonah.
Then, Jonah came clean about who he was and what was going on. He told the men that they needed to throw him into the sea to quiet the storm. So the men cried out to God and tossed Jonah into the water. The storm ended and the men believed in God from this point on. However, God wasn't done with Jonah yet...
He sent a fish to swallow him and hold onto him for three days. Jonah then decided to do what God said and speak out to the people of Nineveh. They heard him and repented. God didn't destroy them after all, but that made Jonah mad. He knew God was merciful and would save the people. He didn't think they deserved saving. He wanted them to die in their sins.
He pretty much pouted in the desert after that. God brought up a plant to shade him from the heat for a day, then destroyed it and turned the heat up on Jonah. Jonah's attitude never improved. He even told God, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” (Jonah 4:9)
I can honestly say that I act a lot like Jonah. I sometimes put on my self-righteousness and judge others the same way he did. Then, have the nerve to get mad at God for caring for them! Nevermind, that God has shown the same mercy to me.
Regardless of Jonah acting like my childish self, God still did what he does. People have been saved. The men on the boat turned away from their idols and believed in the God who created the universe. The people of Nineveh repented and turned away from their sins to worship the one true God.
Keep in mind that even though this life can be difficult with all the expectations of an unrelenting world, God is still faithful to do what He does. He's in the business of restoring and building up, in spite of ourselves.
