Devotion 5: More Than Comfort: Trusting God’s Plan

Alyssa Fairse

“But God said to Jonah, ‘Do you do well to be angry for the plant?’ And he said, ‘Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.’ And the Lord said, ‘You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night. And should not I pity Nineveh, that great city, in which there are more than 120,000 persons who do not know their right hand from their left, and also much cattle?’” Jonah 4:9-11

In the fall of my senior year of high school in 2012, I went to an Acquire the Fire worship conference at Michigan State University. From the stage, they talked about an internship in Texas called the Honor Academy. They described it as a one-year opportunity to focus fully on the Lord, grow as a leader, and be part of building His Kingdom. I remember walking out of that conference completely sure I’d never step foot in Texas. My exact thoughts were, “Texas is way too hot, too far from my family and friends, and I don’t know a single person there. Ain’t no way I’m going.” Months passed without even thinking about it again. Until suddenly, I found myself at the airport boarding a flight to Texas. That year turned out to be everything they said it would be and more. Through climbing mountains in Colorado, going on two-mile runs together every morning, working in a call center, sitting under the teaching of incredible speakers, and forming Christ-centered friendships, God used every piece of it to grow and shape me. Looking back, I couldn’t be more thankful that He led me there.

Jonah’s story reminds me of mine in some ways, but the ending is so different. God used Jonah in such a powerful way, an entire city turned back to Him! But instead of celebrating, Jonah grew bitter. He focused more on his personal comfort than on the fact that thousands of souls were saved. I love how God confronted him with the image of the plant, “You pity the plant for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night.” That verse always sticks with me because it shows how easy it is to value the temporary and forget about what matters most, people meeting the Lord and finding life in Him.

I also love this passage because it reminds me that God is ultimately in control. Jonah didn’t provide that plant, God did! Just like He told Job, “Where were you when I laid the foundation of the earth?” (Job 38:4). God shows Jonah, and us, that He is the Creator, the Sustainer, and the Provider. Job 1:21 reminds us that, “The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” He alone gives and takes away, and He knows what is best for His children. “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). My role is not to cling to plants, comforts, or temporary things, but to rejoice in His mercy and join Him in His mission “to seek and to save the lost” Luke 19:10).

I could have left Texas bitter and angry at the fact that I didn’t want to go there in the first place, bitter that God sent me there, much like Jonah grew angry over Nineveh and the plant. But instead, I’m so thankful the Lord gave me eyes to see His mercy and goodness. I was able to rejoice in how fruitful that season was and recognize all the ways He moved through me and in me. Jonah’s story reminds me that it’s easy to focus on temporary discomforts instead of God’s eternal purposes, but when we trust Him, we can see His hand at work even in challenging seasons. God’s plans are always for our growth and for His glory, and when we align our hearts with His, we can celebrate His faithfulness rather than grumble at our circumstances.

Take a moment to consider the “plants” in your life, the temporary comforts, routines, or preferences that you may be clinging to. Are they keeping you from rejoicing in what God is doing through you or in the lives of others? How can you shift your focus from your own comfort to God’s eternal purposes? Ask God to give you eyes to see His mercy, even in challenging seasons, and a heart willing to trust His timing and plan.