We spent Saturday with our children, grandchildren and friends. During supper, Finley, our 2 1/2 year old granddaughter, put Ryan, our 28 year old son, into timeout. When asked what he did to get put in timeout, she said, “He hit the dog.” (He didn’t.) His timeout period was quite lengthy. After some encouragement that Ryan was sorry, she finally agreed he could get off the steps.

Timeouts are designed to help children slow down and think about what they did to be separated from activity. It could be any attitude or action a parent or guardian finds unacceptable in the particular setting.

Read: Jonah 1:17-2:10

Jonah needed a timeout. When the Lord asked him to complete a task, Jonah ran the other way. He didn’t want to do what Father asked. A timeout in the belly of a fish helped changed Jonah’s perspective.

Are you in timeout right now? What is it the Lord wants to say that you haven’t wanted to hear? Relax into his presence and see what good assignment he has in mind for you.