Does anyone start their day with a desire to be disobedient, stubborn, and arrogant? Why do we sidestep or evade the small still voice that warns us against choosing our own way? The 'I'll survive on my own' mentality is doomed from the start. Do we run from God, fearing, like Jonah, what God may ask me to do, endure, or accept?
Jonah 1:4 says, "...God sent a huge storm at sea, the waves towering."
God came after Jonah. He wouldn't let him escape the decision that pressed upon him. Was it too much to ask...too overpowering?
I can't give up trying to be the person God made me; that would be cowardly. But I must consider the possibility that enduring my next step, my liminal 'unknown' journey, will be hard.
Are you running today? Running away from a decision that's pressing upon your mind, your thoughts, until you're ready to jump overboard?
Read Jonah's prayer...from the belly of the fish.
"In trouble, deep trouble, I prayed to God. He answered me.
From the belly of the grave I cried, 'Help!'
You heard my cry.
You threw me into ocean's depths,into a watery grave,
With ocean waves, ocean breakers
crashing over me.
I said, 'I've been thrown away,thrown out, out of your sight.
I'll never again lay eyes on your Holy Temple.'
Ocean gripped me by the throat.
The ancient Abyss grabbed me and held tight.
My head was all tangled in seaweed at the bottom of the sea where the mountains take root. I was as far down as a body can go,
and the gates were slamming shut behind me forever—
Yet you pulled me up from that grave alive,
O God, my God!
When my life was slipping away, I remembered God,
And my prayer got through to you, made it all the way to your Holy Temple.
Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds, walk away from their only true love. But I'm worshiping you, God, calling out in thanksgiving!
And I'll do what I promised I'd do!
Salvation belongs to God!"
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