What are you running from?

Do you know about the story of Jonah? I didn't know anything about him except he was swallowed by a big fish. 

I didn't know he ran from God and his calling.

I didn't know he ignored God's voice.

I didn't know he risked the lives of others while he was running.

I didn't know how similar his story was to mine… and probably yours.  

The story is simple. God called Jonah to go to Nineveh and denounce her wickedness, but he fled by boat in the opposite direction, because he feared that the success of his preaching would cause God to show mercy. He was thrown overboard to save those on his ship from a fierce storm, and God arranged for him to be swallowed by a large fish. After 3 days the fish threw him up onto dry land (yes, vomit), God called him again, and this time he went. He was actually angry that his preaching was effective, so God had to teach him a lesson about forgiveness and mercy by causing a plant to grow (giving Jonah shade) and causing it to die. Jonah was angry because he needed shade. God pointed out that Jonah was more concerned about a plant than he was about a city with more than 120,000 inhabitants. 

When I initially agreed to apply for The World Race, I was TERRIFIED and SAD. I didn't think that is a typical reaction. I felt a nudge and in some ways I didn't want it to be true. Sure it sounded exciting, but I felt overwhelmed when thinking of all I would have to give up.

I bet this is how Jonah felt when he was asked to go to Nineveh. 

Truth is, I've been feeling the nudge for a couple of years. I always entertained the idea. Even filled out the application once. I always counted the cost too high. I ran. I ignored. I couldn't possibly give up my job..how would I survive financially? When I had boyfriends I thought, 'I can't leave for that amount of time, that's ridiculous." When I didn't have boyfriends there's no way I could stay single for that long, now THAT was absurd. 

Like Jonah, I thought my way was better. 

At first, this was something that God was asking me to do something that required me to give up things that I didn't want to give up. Oh, I was passionate about missions. I WANTED to do missions. Just not at the price it was going to cost me.

BUT..only by the leading of the Holy Spirit did I step out in faith… knowing that this burning desire to GO wasn't going anywhere. I could either choose to continue to run or submit to what God was asking me. What's cool, is that this very thing that scared me to death was MY HEART'S DESIRE. God knew me better than I knew me. So, scared to death I took some leaps and with each one my excitement and peace grew more and MORE. 

Like Jonah, I decided to obey and got a second chance, but I was still angry about my plans.

I was more concerned about my plans of getting married, coaching, and having a family than the people who don't know Jesus. I was more concerned about me accomplishing MY plans than the Lord's plans to love the hurting, poor, afflicted, neglected, and the unsaved. I was angry that my plans weren't coming true. 

Like Jonah, I needed a lesson on mercy and forgiveness. 

God has been so sweetly gentle with me. 

What astounds me about God is that He allows us chance after chance after chance. Our God is a God of second, third, forth, and fifth chances. He knew Jonah would go rogue. Yet He called him anyway. The characters of the Bible aren't super stars. They are REAL people. 

Even though I ran time after time, He waited patiently for me. Praise God for His faithfulness in His pursuit of me! 

So what are you running from? Is there something in your life you think God might be calling you to, but it's just too risky? 

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Atlanta, GA 30353-4470