Most people would probably consider the story of Jonah one of their all-time favorites. It’s hard to forget a man who was swallowed by a fish! The lesson from the story has nothing to do with the big one that got away, however. The story is all about the heart of God.

Has your life just been smooth sailing? Does everything always go as planned? I’m sure your coffee never burns, you never oversleep, and your boss never gets mad at your work performance! When circumstances are leaning our way, we call it the goodness of God, yet in times of distress and need, we usually don’t think He’s so good.

Corrie Ten Boom observed: “…Yes, God is good when He sends good weather. But God was also good when He allowed my sister, Betsie, to starve to death before my eyes in a German concentration camp. …I was very discouraged …and there was darkness in my heart. I remember telling Betsie that I thought God had forgotten us. ‘No, Corrie,’ said Betsie, ‘He has not forgotten us. Remember His Word...’” Corrie also shared what she had learned from her experience: “There is an ocean of God’s love available—there is plenty for everyone.”

Whether you find yourself in the belly of a fish or in a rugged concentration camp—the goodness of God is present. His goodness guarantees our gain and His glory.