Jonah and the Worm

My sister gave me a book for Christmas that I finally picked up to read last week. The book – Jonah and the Worm by Jill Briscoe – is a children’s book with deep meanings, and I am so glad that I finally began to read it. It’s kind of like Shrek or other animated movies that are cleverly written to be enjoyed by both children and their parents.

The book tells the story of Jonah from the Bible focusing on the perspective of the worm in the story. Details are embellished, but the timing and schedule of events is the same as the Biblical account.

This short little book contains really profound truths that have jumped off the page at me. For example, the worm receives a message from God that he should travel to Ninevah, though God doesn’t give him an explanation as to why. Travelling to Ninevah means leaving behind his family and familiarity, but he decides to obey and go where the Lord is sending him – even though he doesn’t know what purpose God has for him there.

On his way to Ninevah, the worm begins to feel a warm glow spread throughout his tiny body. The author explains it as the joy of doing God’s will, but the worm doesn’t realize that yet. Briscoe writes:

“He [the worm] had always supposed that joy was happiness, and that happiness depended on happenings. If your happenings happened to happen the way you happened to want them to happen, then you’d be happy!

Now Little Worm was learning that joy was different. Joy was happiness when nothing was happening right! Humming a little tune, he fairly sped over the ground…”

Powerful, and so true! Not that circumstances in our lives have to be going poorly in order for us to feel joy – Briscoe’s point is that circumstances are irrelevant to joy. How often do we look around us for fulfillment or “happiness” instead of relishing in the joy that comes simply from living in obedience to God? I have been particularly aware of this temptation recently. It’s one that we must pray for special awareness of and protection against.

The book is filled with simple yet profound truths such as this. It’s an easy read, and I have found it educational and good food for thought! I hope that you are choosing joy right now, and I also hope that some of you will check out the book!