How often do you find yourself “making a mountain out of a molehill”?  Maybe you spend a lot of time “crying over spilled milk”? Do you often find yourself “making much ado about nothing”?  This is a very common reaction for many of us.  You may be having a bad day and one thing leads to another and it becomes a catastrophe in your mind when in actuality it is a very small matter (or several matters) that push us to the brink.

We remember the story of Jonah and the whale.  God ordered Jonah to go to Nineveh to warn them their wickedness would be their downfall.  Instead, Jonah disobeyed God and took a ship bound for Tarshish.  God caused a great sea storm because of Jonah’s disobedience and his fellow ship mates threw him overboard where he was swallowed by a great fish.  Upon finding himself in the belly of the whale, Jonah prayed for his life to be saved. He was vomited up by the whale and set out to Nineveh to do as God had originally asked of him.  Upon hearing Jonah’s preaching, the people repented and God relented and did not destroy them. 

Jonah’s action to God’s mercy is surprising. “But it displeased Jonah exceedingly, and he became angry.” (Jonah 4:1).  He certainly overreacts then when he asks God to take his life.  Jonah leaves the city and builds a shelter to sit in for shade so he can see what might happen to Nineveh.  God provides a plant for Jonah’s shade and for this, he is grateful.  The next day however, God sent a worm to chew on the plant so it withered.  (Jonah 1:7) When the sun beat on Jonah’s head, he became weak and again wished for his own death, once again overreacting to a seemingly small event.  

Jonah’s reaction seemed a bit like a middle school girl’s reaction to almost anything when faced with a minor challenge or upset.  A little trouble becomes a monumental ordeal that “ruins everything”. Jonah’s reaction may seem severe but isn’t this what a lot of us do?  I know I have been guilty of this and have “made a mountain out of a molehill” on more than one occasion.

Stop and put your problem(s) in perspective.  Remember that God loves you unconditionally and He has provided for us a way to deal with distress and suffering.  We just need to ask Him for the help we need and listen for His answers in however He gives them.  Take heart and “don’t sweat the small stuff”.  God will do that for you!

Patty