What To Do When Things Don’t Go Your Way

Sermon Outline

Five Mistakes That Made Jonah Miserable That Can Make You Miserable, Too:

  • He allowed his prejudice to get in the way of his mission.   “Arise and go to Nineveh …” (Jonah 1:2 emphasis added) [ESV]
  • He tried to ignore his Mission“But Jonah rose to flee …” (Jonah 1:3emphasis added) [ESV]
  • He resented God’s plan when it didn’t fit his plan“Then God saw their actions—that they had turned from their evil ways—so God relented from the disaster He had threatened to do to them. And He did not do it.”  (Jonah 3:10) 
  • He reluctantly fulfilled his Mission, but with a bad attitude“But Jonah was greatly displeased and became furious.” (Jonah 4:1 emphasis added) 
  • He begrudged God’s mercy and goodness to others. “He prayed to the Lord: “Please, Lord, isn’t this what I said while I was still in my own country? That’s why I fled toward Tarshish in the first place. I knew that You are a merciful and compassionate God, slow to become angry, rich in faithful love, and One who relents from sending disaster.” (Jonah 4:2) 

When things don’t go your way remember …

  • … that God is omniscient (all seeing)4 The Lord asked, “Is it right for you to be angry? 5 Jonah left the city and sat down east of it. He made himself a shelter there and sat in its shade to see what would happen to the city.” (Jonah 4:4-5) 
  • … that God is good to you even when you don’t deserve“Then the Lord God appointed a plant, and it grew up to provide shade over Johan’s head to ease his discomfort. Jonah was greatly pleased with the plant.” (Jonah 4:6)
  • … that God is always in control, even the small stuff. 7 When dawn came the next day, God appointed a worm that attacked the plant, and it withered. 8 As the sun was rising, God appointed a scorching east wind. The sun beat down so much on Jonah’s head that he almost fainted, and he wanted to die. He said, “It’s better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:7-8)
  • … that God uses both the big and small things to direct you! “Then God asked Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “Yes,” he replied. “It is right. I’m angry enough to die!”” (Jonah 4:9)
  • … to focus on what will last. 10 So the Lord said, “You cared about the plant, which you did not labor over and did not grow. It appeared in a night and perished in a night. 11 Should I not care about the great city of Nineveh, which has more than 120,000 people who cannot distinguish between their right and their left, as well as many animals?” (Jonah 4:10-11)