Daily Devotion: Feel Good Friday Thoughts | February 13, 2026
Happy Friday! It’s time for your daily devotion. When it comes to resisting God’s assignment, Jonah is a case in point. At times, you may not agree with God, or you let your emotions control your thoughts, but don’t give in to foolish thinking. In today’s daily devotion, know that God always has the right plan.
Ninevah vs Tarshish
In Jonah 1, God instructs Jonah to go to Nineveh and prophesy against the city because of all its wickedness. But Jonah has a different idea. Verse 3 says, “But Jonah rose up to flee unto Tarshish from the presence of the Lord.” He decides to run from God by going to a city in the opposite direction.
David prays in Psalm 139:7-8: “Whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” David knew there was no escaping the omnipresent God. In your daily devotion, decide that you’ll follow God’s directions wholeheartedly.
Cast Me into the Sea
While sailing to Tarshish, God sends a storm that violently rocks the boat to near destruction. The sailors are scrambling, praying to their gods, and tossing things overboard to lighten the ship. They come to Jonah, who’s surprisingly asleep, appealing to him to pray to his God. Then they cast lots to see who’s to blame for the catastrophe. Jonah agrees he’s in disobedience to God.
Jonah replies, “Take me up, and cast me forth into the sea; so shall the sea be calm unto you: for I know that for my sake this great tempest is upon you.” The men row harder to get to shore, but nothing works, so they toss Jonah overboard. In this daily devotion, like Jonah, admit when you’ve disobeyed God.
The Big Fish
As soon as Jonah’s thrown into the sea, the storm stops. Then a big fish swallows him, and he’s stuck in the fish’s belly for three days and nights. In Jonah 2:1, he pleads to God in prayer. The Lord hears Jonah, and He speaks to the fish. The fish obeys and vomits Jonah upon the shore.
The Lord says to Jonah again in 3:2: “Arise, go unto Nineveh.” The assignment hasn’t changed, but now Jonah has a different response. In verse 3, he gets up and goes to Ninevah. In your daily devotion, sometimes our greatest trials will lead us to obedience.
Going to Ninevah
When Jonah enters Ninevah, he hits the ground running, proclaiming God’s word that the city will be destroyed in forty days. The king calls for a national fast and repentance for their evil ways, that God be merciful to them. In verse 10, God forgives them and saves Ninevah from destruction. Yet in Jonah 4:1, Jonah is angry that God shows mercy to Israel’s enemies, whom he considers undeserving.
He’s so distraught, he wants to die, but he makes a shelter and sits outside the city to watch what befalls it. God allows a plant to grow and shield Jonah from the sun, and Jonah’s happy. Then a worm destroys it, and the sun beats upon Jonah’s head. Now he’s angry the plant’s destroyed. God admonishes Jonah for valuing a plant more than he values the thousands of souls in Nineveh in need of salvation.
Soul-Winning Time
In Friday’s daily devotion, know that the Bible teaches that all souls belong to God, and he who wins souls is wise. Jesus said the harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. The heartbeat of God’s kingdom is winning souls. In this daily devotion, unlike Jonah, embrace it and proclaim God’s word with joy.
