I think every one of us has had some experience of being in “the belly of the whale”. How dark, lonely and more hopeless could things possibly get? Homelessness, abandonment and alienation from family and a support network, addiction, poverty, betrayals and broken promises, dysfunctional and toxic relationships, devastating illnesses, overwhelming grief -the list of the darkest places in which we have all found ourselves could continue indefinitely.
In our human condition, we cry out to God. Why is this happening to me? What did I ever do to deserve such a harsh fate as this? Is there a lesson for me in this horrible, hopeless mess? May I just tell You, God, I think I got Your message, so could You just make it all stop right now? And by the way, my grandmother was so very mistaken when she said, “God never sends you more than you can handle.”
The challenge to all of us is to have faith and trust in God when there seems to be no light and no pathway out. God understands. God never promised us a smooth, seamless and pain-free life, but He did promise to always be with us, to love us unconditionally and to forgive us completely. That’s the way out of the belly of the whale.
Prayer: All-powerful and unseen God, the coming of your light into our world has brought us peace. Teach us to proclaim the birth of your Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever. Eternal God, Jesus Christ, the coming of light shines in our darkness, giving us joy in our sorrow and comfort in loneliness. Amen.
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