We are all Jonah and Nineveh

A heart-moving and thought-provocative prayer by Fr. Daoud Lamei
Fr. Daoud Lamei is an angel of St. Mark Coptic Orthodox Church in Misr El Gedida, Cairo, Egypt.
Explanations of some terms and expressions:
"our scales weigh lightly": It is a figure of speech and signifies that if we our goodness is to be measured on a balance scale, it will rise, thus signifying that it is not enough. Imagine if our faith and deeds were to be tested and placed on a scale of a balance, and the scale was lifted upwards due to its light weight, this means that they are not enough or worth much.
“the times when we wished to die, although we were perishing”: It means that there are times when we ask God to take our lives! As Jonah did! But God, out of His mercy on us, does NOT do as we ask, because we are ignorant of the fact that if He were to grant us our wish at that moment of despair, we would have perished (i.e. not made it to Heaven)! Thus, it is good that God does not grant us our lethal wishes, knowing best that it is not the right time to depart the world.
“and the times when we rejected Your will, although we were also perishing”: It means that how scary it is that we reject God’s will, thinking that we will survive somehow, our way, and that there will be tomorrow, as if we guarantee our lifetime. Those who reject God’s will, not knowing how close they are to the point of perishing! Therefore, we need to be thankful for the second chances that God grants us and not to abuse His longsuffering to degenerate further or continue in our sinful ways, rather to repent.
#christianorthodox #godincontrol #heavenlyfather #christianinspiration #choices #challenge #godworks #selfcontrol #selfimprovement #humanity #inspiration
#inspiringquotes #inspirational #inspirationalvideo #motivationalquotes #motivationalvideo #copticorthodox #iraq #turkey