by Cathy Vinson

Let's say after a number of circumstances God's purpose has been fulfilled, and the situation has reached closure. The only thing left is that WE'VE been uprooted. We are no longer in our easy chair in our home. We are dislocated. We are left as the stray end: vulnerable.

We don't like this, and Jonah didn't either. He said to God, Didn't I tell You this is exactly what would happen while I was at home in my easy chair? Here I am across the desert from my home as the awkward foreigner. I am the odd man out. There is now no place for me in this world, "for it is better for me to die than to live." (Jon 4:3,8) Perhaps in our lives this has been a new relationship, job opportunity, or calling to give of ourselves...can we relate?

To this God asks a question: "Do you have a right to be angry?" (Jon 4:4,9) Where are our rights when it comes to this kind of anger, or our rights to anger in this kind of predicament?

A loving Voice comes to reason with us asking us gentle questions (please see Matthew 20:13-15). Out of His patient probing we may realize a different perspective..."Friend, am I being unfair to you?...Didn't we make an agreement (when you gave your life to Me)?...Don't I have the RIGHT to do what I want with what is Mine?...Is your eye envious because I am generous?"

Our rights make good sense to us and are helpfully recorded in Scriptures like these, Jonah 4 and Mt 20:12. They can help us target just what we are dealing with deep inside and enable God to reason with us.

Desirable life and peace will come to us when we become God-centered. We may have become "sick and tired of being sick and tired." In His gentle probing we may enter God's perspective and then desire for Him to have HIS right....

The Lord replied, "Is it right for you to be angry about this?"

(Jonah 4:4 )