Thursday, August 11, 2022
Opening Your Eyes and Softening Your Heart - Nah, I'm Good
Jonah has always been my favorite book in the Old Testament. His story is so raw and honest. It gives us an account of a man who was so against God’s will that he would literally rather die than repent from his disobedience and warn the Ninevites of God’s judgment in order to give them the chance to experience God’s mercy.
Throughout my life, I have run away from my own proverbial Ninevehs many times. I struggled with mercy and forgiveness in the past. I did not understand why bad things happened to good people and why good things often came to those who lived immoral lives. My heart was full of bitterness. I was not spiritually mature enough to grasp that I was created to serve a patient and merciful God. I sin every day, and I desperately need his mercy and forgiveness.
While Jonah judged the people of Nineveh for their wickedness, he needed the same mercy and grace from God that they did. As found in the Scriptures, God brought judgment down upon Jonah and the other passengers of a ship for Jonah’s disobedience through an intense storm. They all faced the consequences of Jonah trusting himself instead of God.
Jonah 1:10-12
The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the Lord. “Oh, why did you do it?” they groaned. 11 And since the storm was getting worse all the time, they asked him, “What should we do to you to stop this storm?” 12 “Throw me into the sea,” Jonah said, “and it will become calm again. I know that this terrible storm is all my fault.”
The storm would have subsided if Jonah had repented of his disobedience and went to Nineveh to proclaim the word of the Lord. However, Jonah was so angry about God’s potential forgiveness and mercy for the Ninevites’ sin that, instead of repenting, he asked the other sailors to throw him overboard—even though it would potentially result in his death. He was so full of anger that he chose death over giving his enemies a chance at repentance.
Whenever we feel angry at God and feel like we are lacking justice for the seemingly unfair events that have occurred in our lives, we have two choices, as Lead Pastor Ben Snyder explained. We can either trust the Lord and his higher ways, or we can trust ourselves.
God ultimately softened Jonah’s heart and showed his great mercy by leading both Jonah and the Ninevites to repentance and a relationship with God. Therefore, at the times we doubt God’s goodness and misunderstand his higher ways, let us remember to soften our hearts and trust in him. We are never too far gone for God’s abundant grace.
Questions:
- Has there been a time when you ran in the opposite direction of where God was calling you? How did you soften your heart and ultimately learn to trust in him?
- What are the outcomes of trusting yourself instead of trusting God?
Next Steps:
- Pray for God to examine your heart and let go of any bitterness that you hold against others. Ask him to help you place all of your trust in him rather than in yourself.
- Text 21days to 419-419-0707 to participate in the 21 Days of Prayer to grow closer with God and help you discern where he is calling you to go.
21 days of Prayer
Day 4 Focus – For Our World – For the Churches (Acts 1:8)
God, you alone are worthy of honor, glory, and praise. With you, we can overcome every storm that comes our way. You are the only true answer to the struggles that our world faces today. Help our world to see and recognize this truth. I also pray that a deep passion would grow within the church for our world and for your message to be shared to the ends of the earth.
Today’s Parent Prayer