Discovering Purpose

Jonah 1:11-12 NASB 11 So they said to him, “What should we do to you that the sea may become calm for us?”—for the sea was becoming increasingly stormy. 12 He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will become calm for you, for I know that on account of me this great storm has come upon you.”Jonah 1:15-16 NASB 15 So they picked up Jonah, threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.Jonah 1:17 NASB 17 And the Lord appointed a great fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights.1. What if the SWALLOWING was TO SAVE?2. What if the RESTRICTION was to RESTORE?Jonah 2:1-9 NASB  1 Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish, 2 and he said, “I called out of my distress to the Lord, And He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; You heard my voice. 3 “For You had cast me into the deep, Into the heart of the seas, And the current engulfed me. All Your breakers and billows passed over me. 4 “So I said, ‘I have been expelled from Your sight. Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ 5 “Water encompassed me to the point of death. The great deep engulfed me, Weeds were wrapped around my head. 6 “I descended to the roots of the mountains. The earth with its bars was around me forever, But You have brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God. 7 “While I was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, And my prayer came to You, Into Your holy temple. 8 “Those who regard vain idols forsake their faithfulness, 9 But I will sacrifice to You with the voice of thanksgiving. That which I have vowed I will pay. Salvation is from the Lord.”3. What if the PURGING was to PROVIDE?Jonah 2:10 NASB Then the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah up onto the dry land.1 Peter 4:12-13; 19 NIV 12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. 19 Therefore let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.Jonah 3:1-3 NASB Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, 2 “Arise, go to Nineveh the great city and proclaim to it the proclamation which I am going to tell you.”3 So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh according to the word of the Lord.Questions:1. What if the situation that feels “SWALLOWING” to you is actually to save you from something? How might you process it differently?2. What if the “RESTRICTING” season you are in is actually to RESTORE or heal you? How might that work? How would you know?3. What God wants to use the “PURGING” (or mess that you find yourself in) to PROVIDE for you in some way? What might that look like and how can you best navigate that provision?