​I really like Jonah 2:2: “I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the Lord, and he heard me; out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.”

​Jonah is so often remembered as the prophet who fled. Nineveh where he was called to preach was known for the murder and torture of his people. I wouldn’t want to go to Nineveh either. I imagine Jonah being truly scared for his life.

Genesis 28:11, 16, 18 has great meaning to me.

Verse 11 talks of Jacob traveling, coming upon a difficult place. When it was time to sleep, he made pillows out of stones, representing the difficult times in our lives.

While sleeping, Jacob had a powerful dream, and in verse 16 he said, “Surely the Lord is in this place; and I knew it not."

In verse 18, Jacob realizes those pillows or that difficult time in his life is now a pillar. To me, this means that God helped Jacob take his struggles and used them to build up Jacob. Oil was poured on the pillar, meaning those struggles are now a strength as they are consecrated and/or sanctified for Jacob's good.