Oh Whale

This past week the story of Jonah has been brought to my attention. Initially, I started to tune it out because blah blah blah he runs away and gets swallowed by a great fish then eventually finds his way to where he needed to go. Big whoop. However, I began to listen and think about how it could possibly relate to my life when I realized I was much more like Jonah than I wanted to believe.

Jonah was given directions to go to Nineveh and speak to the people there on behalf of the Lord. He directly disobeyed, went in the opposite direction, and caused a bigger mess. Sound familiar? So often I find God making it obvious to me what I need to do, and thinking I know better I turn the other way and make a mess that could have been avoided. Neither you or I are bigger or smarter than God, so I don’t recommend that method. There was a lack of faith and a surplus of fear in Jonah. Not only did he not want to go to Nineveh, but he was also not looking forward to the outcome. He was afraid that the nature of God would prevail and that there would be forgiveness for the Ninevites. He did not have the right perspective of faith and did not trust God with the outcome.

As I’m sitting in church the thoughts rolling around in my head are all along the lines of “dude, it really shouldn’t have been that difficult to go to Nineveh” and “the Veggie Tales episode of this was really good.” In all seriousness, I was judging Jonah for fleeing in fear when I have been doing the same thing. There is a season that God is calling me into that I have not only done my best to avoid but also blatantly gone the other way. I’m afraid of feeling lonely and not having someone. I have so many questions, and I yearn for the answers. But here is the beauty, remember how I said we are not bigger or smarter than God? It’s true, and that means we can trust Him with the outcome. Oh whale, the outcome is not our responsibility. We can trust that even in the waiting and the silence He is working all things for our good.

So whether it is a season of singleness, a mission trip, a job opportunity, or so many unanswered questions - just remember that He is working out. Psalms 27:14 says “Wait for the Lord, be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord.” Whatever it is that you are fleeing from I encourage you to pause, turn around, and run even harder toward God.

John 15 has been on my heart this week along with the story of Jonah.

“Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” John 15:5

“I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in His love.” John 15:9-10

Remain in Jesus, abide in His love. Let His perfect love cast out all fear you may have about the outcome.

“Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” 1 John 4:18

6 “Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7