Scripture
Jonah 1:1-3 (NLT)
The Lord gave this message to Jonah, son of Amittai: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. Announce my judgment against it because I have seen how wicked its people are.” 3 But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish.
Reflection:
Jonah was running from the direct command of the Lord because he didn’t like what God called him to do. He planned to run from Jerusalem, where God’s presence was most robust. The task wasn’t difficult, but Jonah didn’t want to go for two reasons:
1. fear of what would happen to him and
2. The people being saved or made equal with him.
In his eyes, those people didn’t deserve God’s mercy, so he didn’t want to bring God's message to them. So, he becomes the running man, one running from God.
Are You running from God?
We run from God when, like Jonah, we go in the opposite direction. We may feel that direction is best for us but the opposite direction rarely takes the right turn. Pray instead of running; pray about the task He is calling you to do; we most likely will not like what God calls us to do because God calls us to do the things that will take us out of our comfort zone. Everyone that God calls in the Bible has to come out of their comfort zone. Our discomfort may stem from fear, doubt to wanting to please ourselves instead of God. Regardless of the cause of our discomfort, God’s purpose is more significant than artificial reason.
APPLICATION:
The best way to answer God’s call is to pray.
Pray for repentance
Pray for discernment
Pray for courage
Regardless of your situation, God is calling you to do great things. Answer His calling with prayer, and He will lead you in the right direction. Running away solved nothing. Praying solves everything.
Reflection
What is God calling you to do, and what is your response?
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, help me surrender to you, help me give up my doubt, fears, or whatever is holding me back from the calling you place on my life so that I walk in my purpose and calling. In Jesus’ name, I pray.
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