notesbynora

The story of Jonah is one of the most dramatic accounts in Scripture of what happens when we try to resist God’s call. God asked Jonah to go to Nineveh, a city full of wickedness, and preach a message of repentance. Jonah didn’t want to go. Instead, he turned his back and ran in the opposite direction, boarding a ship bound for Tarshish.

But when we run from God, we never run alone. Jonah’s disobedience didn’t just affect him. The ship he boarded was soon caught in a violent storm. Seasoned sailors panicked as waves crashed and winds howled. Their lives were in jeopardy because Jonah was running from God. That’s often the reality: when we step outside of God’s commands, the ripples touch not only our own lives but the lives of those around us—our family, our friends, our coworkers. Our choices carry weight.

When Jonah finally admitted the truth and told the sailors he was the reason for the storm, they reluctantly threw him overboard. Instead of drowning, Jonah found himself swallowed by a great fish. In the belly of that whale, Jonah had no place to run. He prayed. He confessed. He remembered that God was still there with him, even in the darkest and most unlikely of places. That’s the grace of God: even when we are far from obedience, He doesn’t abandon us.

After three days, the fish spat Jonah out. God’s command hadn’t changed. Jonah still needed to go to Nineveh. This time, he obeyed. And what happened? The people of Nineveh repented, and God spared them from destruction. Jonah’s reluctant obedience led to an entire city turning toward God.

Jonah’s journey reminds us of some powerful truths. First, running from God doesn’t erase His call on our lives—it only delays it. Second, our disobedience doesn’t happen in isolation. Like Jonah on that ship, our choices can put others in harm’s way. Third, God’s presence is constant. Even in the belly of the whale, God was with Jonah. And finally, God can use even our detours to bring about His purposes. Jonah wasn’t perfect, but God’s mission still prevailed.

So let me ask you: what are you avoiding? Is there something God has been calling you to do, but you’ve been running the other direction? Maybe it’s forgiving someone who hurt you. Maybe it’s stepping into a ministry or speaking up about your faith. Maybe it’s letting go of a habit that’s pulling you away from God.

Whatever it is, know this—God is patient, but He will not give up on you. His plans are not to harm you but to use you for His glory. Don’t wait for the storm to rise or the whale to swallow you before you listen. Today, choose obedience. Run toward God, not away from Him.

Because when you stop running and start listening, not only will your life change, but the lives of those around you may be forever transformed.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You for never giving up on me, even when I run from Your will. Forgive me for the times I have resisted Your voice and chosen my own way. Help me to see that obedience brings peace, not only to my life but also to those around me. Give me the courage to stop running and start following You wholeheartedly. Use me, Lord, to bring light and hope to others, just as Jonah’s obedience brought salvation to Nineveh. In Jesus’ name, Amen.