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WEDNESDAY: God Uses Broken Vessels
BIG IDEA:
The only thing harder than following God’s Will is wishing that you had.
Reading: Jonah 1:11-17; 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
Jonah 1:11-17
“Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you, that the sea may quiet down for us?” For the sea grew more and more tempestuous. He said to them, “Pick me up and hurl me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you, for I know it is because of me that this great tempest has come upon you.” Nevertheless, the men rowed hard to get back to dry land, but they could not, for the sea grew more and more tempestuous against them. Therefore, they called out to the Lord, “O Lord, let us not perish for this man’s life, and lay not on us innocent blood, for you, O Lord, have done as it pleased you.” So they picked up Jonah and hurled him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows. And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”
2 Corinthians 12:9-10
“But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
Devotional:
Remarkably, the pagan sailors came to faith not through Jonah's success, but through his failure and brokenness. God doesn't need our perfection; He uses our surrendered lives.
The great fish that swallowed Jonah wasn't punishment—it was provision. God could have let Jonah drown, but He loved him too much. Your failures, struggles, and storms can become the very platform God uses to display His grace to others.
Reflection:
Perhaps you're in the belly of the fish right now—a dark place of consequence and reflection. Remember, God hasn't abandoned you. He's preparing you. Sometimes God uses tasks to accomplish people, not people to accomplish tasks.
Response:
Let God refine you in this season.
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