Faithbase

Hey Faith-Based Family, blessings to you today. Hope you're doing well. I just wanted to give a quick word of encouragement. When I was living in Central America, I got to a season in my life where I was just so discouraged and depressed. I felt so lonely, my heart was struggling, just a weightiness to my soul, and I remember reading the book of Jonah, and Jonah's what we call one of the minor prophets, just minor because it's shorter in nature, and I had this realization that Jonah was the first missionary. You see, all the other prophets were actually calling Israelites back to the Lord to return to the faith, to seeking Him, to monotheistic practices, just worshiping the one true God and calling them into right living as well. But Jonah was the only one sent to another people group outside of the Israelites and to call them to repentance. And as I was reading Jonah, I'm realizing, man, this Jonah guy is a grumpy dude, right? He's complaining a lot, and I thought, well, I'm kind of in a season where I'm complaining because I'm so discouraged with life, and I see him with attitudes that are not honoring the Lord at all. I actually feel like Jonah might have had some racism and discrimination in his heart, which we're not honoring to the Lord by any means. But I see that Jonah does this one small act of obedience, meaning he makes this very short proclamation in Jonah chapter 3, and what we see in chapter 4 is that 120,000 people repented. And I share that with you to say, don't despise small beginnings. The Lord can use your small act of faithfulness in huge ways. Right where you are, whether you're having a grumpy day or a day filled with joy, the Lord can use you. He can use your words of encouragement. He can use your prayers. He can use acts of kindness. Don't miss out on opportunities the Lord provides for you, regardless of where you are. At the same time, just like Jonah, we can bring our pain and our struggle and our sadness to the Lord with authenticity. I find so much encouragement from the Psalms as David uses words like his anguish of soul. Boy, in that season that I was in when I was on the mission field, I could relate. Anguish of soul. So bring your heaviness of heart, if that's what you're carrying to the Lord. He welcomes it. He invites it. But know that he can use you right where you are. Whatever you're going through, he can work a mighty work through you. Blessings to you today. I hope the Lord encourages you. I hope he reveals his presence to you. I hope that you're aware of his kindness and his goodness and his joy and his tenderness. Have a wonderful day.