Warrior Truth: “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him” Phil 2v13
We’ve just wrapped up a series at church on the book of Jonah where we were invited to find ourselves within the story. As the pastoral team took us through each chapter, I was drawn so deeply into the story and to a place of gratitude for the work God is doing in me and what He wants to do for the Ninevah represented in my life.
A quick summary of the story: Jonah is called by God to speak to Ninevah. Jonah chooses not to follow God’s direction and instead runs away. His plans seem to work out as he is granted passage on a ship heading in the opposite direction. A great storm threatens the ship and every life and eventually, somewhat reluctantly, the sailors throw Jonah into the sea (on his instruction), to quiet the storm. The storm ceases and Jonah is swallowed by a big fish – God’s chosen rescue. While in the belly of the fish, Jonah reflects on his life, recognising God at work, repents of his disobedience, is spat out on the shore and is called once again to speak to Ninevah (which he does do, still rather reluctantly). Despite Jonah’s terrible attitude, Ninevah responds to the message they hear with deeply repentant hearts and are spared – not because of Jonah’s actions, because of God’s mercy and grace. The same grace and mercy Jonah himself experienced. The same grace and mercy I have experienced through God at work in my life.
Studying the book of Jonah shone the spotlight on God’s presence through some recent storms and fish belly moments of my own. While I had not knowingly ‘run away’ from God, I had allowed work and my head to get in the way of what God was wanting to do. My head said I was not ready and found distraction in work – a landmark project for the business seemed to consume my every waking moment (and some of the sleeping ones too if I am honest). The pressures on the project intensified until I found myself feeling much like those sailors, unable to keep on battling the storm and far off from safe harbour. Like Jonah, I devised a plan to escape. My plan did not account for the fact that others were as exhausted from the storm as I was. Into the sea I was hurled and into the belly of a fish. The belly of a fish might not seem like the best place to be, but it was certainly better than drowning in the ocean depths. In the belly of the fish, I was surrendered fully, allowing God to step in. And He did. A door opened providing me with the opportunity to step into a new role and the opportunity to pick up that which He has called me to do.
Even though Jonah ran away from his call, God never abandoned Jonah. God was with him in the boat, in the storm, in the sea, in the belly of the fish and in Ninevah. I realised that God knew Jonah’s heart – he knew he would struggle to accept the call and the grace poured out on them. God asked Jonah to go and speak to Ninevah – He did wait for him to be ready. He did not require him to be perfect or complete. He used what Jonah gave him to work with, to work out His perfect plan. In the same way, God never abandons us either and He is not expecting perfection from us. He is asking us to go, asking us to be obedient to the call He has placed on our lives so that His work in us would show His grace, His mercy to those around us. I have seen God at work in my life and it is good work and I am honoured and humbled and thankful that He would choose me.
Warrior Tool: When next you pick up the word of God, be intentional with what you read. Find yourself in the words, in the account, in the stories, in the parables. Allow the Spirit to speak into your life to stir up your passion and equip you to act on what God has asked you to do. And when the little voice rises up within you to say you are not ready, declare the truth over your life – God is at work in you, giving you the desire and power to do what pleases Him. God has stirred up within me again the desire and ability to write (and speak His truth) and is showing me in amazing ways how He is using this to touch the lives of others. In the last few months I have had several opportunities to stir up this passion which He has blessed.
Prayer: Thank you Lord that You are with us in every storm. Thank you that You use these storms in our lives to bring us back to You. Help me to set aside my expectations of perfection and to surrender to You in my brokenness. Thank you that You use my brokenness to work out Your perfect plan. Lord, remind me each day to keep my eyes on You and to seek shelter in You when the storms threaten. Thank you that I do not have to brave the storms alone. Thank you that you are working in me, giving me the desire and power to do what pleases You. Thank you Lord that you have called me for a purpose and that I can use the gifts and talents You have given me to bring glory to You. Amen.
With God, For His Glory