Generation of Jonahs

If God were to call us on the phone, we would answer in a heartbeat. So when God places a calling on your life....

Why are you (we) running?

I think we all know the story of Jonah so I won't go through it in complete detail (and if you don't know, please find a time to read the book of Jonah - it's only a couple pages long in the bible and I promise you won't regret it!)

The part I want to focus on is, when God called Jonah - he ran.

Away from God. Straight for a chaotic situation that was designed to kill him.

When Jonah ran from God by boarding a ship set for a far away city, two things first happened: the Lord sent a great wind, and Jonah fell into a deep sleep.

The Great Wind

"Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up." [Jonah 1:4]

Key words: The Lord sent.

Not every storm you're facing is an attack from the devil. He could be kicking back eating popcorn, but he is not the director of this movie. You are.

When God sets us on a clear path, and we decide to venture off on our own, sometimes He will allow the chaos of the situation be our correction. Not as punishment, but to teach us. Hebrews 12:11 says,

"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it."

Going through the storm was and is meant to strengthen our understanding of God's love and mercy so that we gain the knowledge on:

1) how to get back on the right path, and

2) why we need to stay there.

The Deep Sleep

I find it interesting that even in the midst of a storm, Jonah fell asleep.

In such a chaotic situation, how did he find rest?

In your own Jonah era, ask yourself the same question - how do we find comfort in the environments that our deliberate disobedience has led us to?

That is the tactic of the enemy - to have you so comfortable in your sin that you don't realize the danger you're in until it's too late.

I pray that you awake to whatever it is in your life that was sent to end it.

You will not miss God's call.

Now this is where the story gets good(er).

When the sailors cast lots to see who was responsible for the storm, Jonah told them,

"I know it is my fault that this great storm has come upon you." [Jonah 1:12].

A return to God starts with a confession. It is an acknowledgement of where you went wrong, and an understanding of what's right. Proverbs 28:13 tells us that, "Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy."

To conceal is the opposite of to confess, and death is the opposite of prosperity. You can't live in what's killing you.

In Jonah's specific situation, God's mercy allowed for him to be swallowed by a giant fish. During that time, Jonah said a prayer of repentance and rescue.

What I love about this is that God's saving mercy began at the time of confession, not rescue.

Sometimes we don't realize that God is already returning us back to the starting point. For Jonah, it was three days and three nights.

For you, it could be a week, a month, a year.

What's important to remember is, during that time of rescue and recovery, there is wisdom that must be gained to carry out the restoring knowledge that produces change.

Changed behavior, changed thoughts, changed circumstances.

When God commanded the fish to vomit Jonah on dry land (an environment opposite of the condition he was just in), Jonah obeyed the word of God.

God's re-directing discernment is found in obedience.

You can trust that His word will restore all areas of your life.

Refresh and renew your path. Recover anything lost.

Return you back to a life redeemed - dry land.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." [Jeremiah 29:11]

-CIN