And the word of the LORD came unto Jonah the second time, saying, Arise, go unto Nineveh, that great city, and preach unto it the preaching that I bid thee. — Jonah 3:1-2

One of the challenges of being a parent can be when your children don’t want to listen. It never fails when I want my son to listen to something that I am telling him, he has a different idea. He has his own plan for the day and what he wants to do. He may be distracted by what he is listening to or watching.

Sometimes, it is necessary to do something to get his attention so he will listen. There are times I have to take away the thing he is listening to or watching. Maybe I have to get down directly in his face while talking to him. It’s all in an effort to get his attention so he will listen when I tell him the second time.

I am certain that being swallowed by the fish got Jonah’s attention. After all, he went directly against what God had told him to do. God knew it would take something to get his attention, before he could give him a second chance.

There are many reasons we face difficulties in life, but one is most certainly disobedience. Those times God speaks directly to us and shares what he would have us to do, yet we are like a stubborn and distracted child. We go directly against what He told us and go our own way. Sometimes, God must get our attention.

While those experiences can be disrupting and difficult, I’m so glad we have a God that gives second chances. When we don’t listen, He knows exactly how to get our attention. Maybe God is telling you to do something today. It’s always best to listen the first time. But if you found you have gone astray, praise God for second chances!

Jared Dyson