Ditching the Jonah Life

by Lydia Floren

Jonah was an interesting guy. He had a relationship with God. He talked to God, and listened to Him. But he didn’t always agree with Him. He felt like he could—should, in fact–pick and choose which of God’s commands he should follow, and which he would ignore. When God told him to go to Ninevah and tell people about Him, Jonah balked, and then downright refused.

“UUUUUMMMMMM, Naaaaah, I don’t think so God. All due respect, I think that is a really bad idea. That may be in your plan, but not in mine. Find yourself another prophet. I think I will be better off going this way.”

Well we all know how that turned out: Jonah got caught in a storm and thrown overboard, swallowed by a big fish, where he lived for three days before getting urped up on land. Lovely. It took all that for Jonah to come to his senses, to realize that God’s way might really be best, and to choose to follow Him in spite of how things looked on the surface.

Jonah didn’t doubt his ability to hear God–He heard him loud and clear. He doubted God’s judgment. He had certain expectations of how his life should go, and when God told him to do something that didn’t sync with that, he rebelled. Sound familiar?

I am too much like Jonah.

I expect my life to go a certain way, and when it doesn’t, I whine. “I don’t deserve this.” When that doesn’t work (does whining ever help?), I try to convince God He got it wrong. “I think you missed the mark here, God. This is not really the best plan, at least not for me. And here’s why…” Finally I rebel. “Thanks but no thanks. I’ll take it from here.”

How many times do I have to nearly drown before I accept that God really does know best? When will I learn that following God, even when my “better” judgment tells me not to, is the best way—the only way—to live? When will the truth sink in and take hold?

Because, the truth is, God sees the big picture, while I am only looking at one little puzzle piece. The truth is, God is crazy about me, and His way will lead me to the joyful, abundant life He so desires for me. The truth is, God’s plans for me won’t lead me to disaster. They are designed to give me a future and a hope.

The truth is, God’s judgment is much better than mine. Or yours.