Jonah 1:1-3
1“The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.”
3 But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the Lord”.
I was not the best student in college, more like I was just getting by. I could do better, but I was a poor student and not very motivated. I tried harder during my review for my licensure exam, but not hard enough, so imagine when I got the result and got 82% general average. It was not super high as I did not land top 10 but it was way better than my expectation and probably most of my friends who did well in college and got lower average.
I also landed a job just one month after I took the licensure exam and that is while waiting for the result of the licensure exam. It was not a prestigious job, but I feel like I was better-off than my friends who paid on-the-job trainings. I also get to pay my own fees when I attend trainings, and I was really proud of myself.
Until there was a nationwide hiring for newly graduate nurses, and I was repeatedly rejected.
I filed my applications confidently the first time, I have good grades in college, a relatively high general average for the licensure exam, plus I already have a work experience. The competition is rather easy as we are all new graduates. Unfortunately, I was not informed of the exam schedule for unknown reason. I re-applied for the second batch, and for some reason I was not included in the list of applicants. I was so dishearten with the turn of events that I tried applying for Bureau of Fire as a fireman officer. I passed the exam and landed 13th out of the 30 applicants. I was scheduled for the physical fitness test the following week, but then I got a call that I should not attend as I did not pass one requirement which I already got clearance before the exam.
By then, I was so depressed with the turn of events and so disappointed with my current job that I quit. Fortunately, my older siblings were supportive that they contributed to set-up a business for me to manage. Again, after trying for five months, the business failed.
It was a sad story, but it wasn’t really!
As a child, I frequented church and learned about Jesus. But while growing-up I had bad choices and drifted away from God. I somehow find myself a few times in church and fiery with prayer. I had overwhelming hunger for the Lord, but my inability to forgive myself and my shame has kept me from the call of God and fully committing myself to Him.
Every rejection and failure was like a door that God closes, not to make it harder for me but to help me find my way to Him. I was so desperate, defeated and tired. I had no other options, I’ve run out of ability to help myself, and like a child I finally cried to Lord. And like a father, he comforted me. And since He is more than a father but also a Savior, He came to my rescue. He gave a solution to all my difficulties – un-forgiveness, shame, employment and an escape away from my sinful nature.
Many of us is like Jonah, we run away from God for seemingly rationale reasons like fear, but ultimately it is lack of faith that we run away from God. For God said in Matthew 17:20 that even if we have faith like the size of a mustard seed we can command a mountain to move and it will move.
May we become like the father of the possessed boy in Mark 9 who easily accepts his unbelief and ask the Lord to help us with our unbelief.
Let Proverbs 3:1-35 be our devotions in time of unbelief.
Wisdom Bestows Well-Being
1My son, do not forget my teaching,
but keep my commands in your heart,
2for they will prolong your life many years
and bring you peace and prosperity.
3Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.
5Trust in the Lord with all your heart
and lean not on your own understanding;
6in all your ways submit to him,
and he will make your paths straight.a
7Do not be wise in your own eyes;
fear the Lord and shun evil.
8This will bring health to your body
and nourishment to your bones.
9Honor the Lord with your wealth,
with the firstfruits of all your crops;
10then your barns will be filled to overflowing,
and your vats will brim over with new wine.
11My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline,
and do not resent his rebuke,
12because the Lord disciplines those he loves,
as a father the son he delights in.b
13Blessed are those who find wisdom,
those who gain understanding,
14for she is more profitable than silver
and yields better returns than gold.
15She is more precious than rubies;
nothing you desire can compare with her.
16Long life is in her right hand;
in her left hand are riches and honor.
17Her ways are pleasant ways,
and all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to those who take hold of her;
those who hold her fast will be blessed.
19By wisdom the Lord laid the earth’s foundations,
by understanding he set the heavens in place;
20by his knowledge the watery depths were divided,
and the clouds let drop the dew.
21My son, do not let wisdom and understanding out of your sight,
preserve sound judgment and discretion;
22they will be life for you,
an ornament to grace your neck.
23Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble.
24When you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
25Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
26for the Lord will be at your side
and will keep your foot from being snared.
27Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due,
when it is in your power to act.
28Do not say to your neighbor,
“Come back tomorrow and I’ll give it to you”—
when you already have it with you.
29Do not plot harm against your neighbor,
who lives trustfully near you.
30Do not accuse anyone for no reason—
when they have done you no harm.
31Do not envy the violent
or choose any of their ways.
32For the Lord detests the perverse
but takes the upright into his confidence.
33The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked,
but he blesses the home of the righteous.
34He mocks proud mockers
but shows favor to the humble and oppressed.
35The wise inherit honor,
but fools get only shame.