Running to the Fish or the Foundation
I am 37 weeks pregnant and still running…
It has been something I have been blessed to be able to do throughout 3 out of my 4 pregnancies (and of course doctor approved too so please don’t worry.) However, when people find this out, I get a lot of different reactions. Some people laugh and tell me that they would love to see how that looks and some have even asked for a video of it. Others give me a look of concern while some verbalize that. And then some have even inquired, “Why don’t you just rest?”
Over the years, I have learned to appreciate the care and heart behind the comments, and even the laughs that come with those words and expressions. While right now my sprints and workouts are getting shorter and I am always attentive to how I feel, I have learned over the years when I need to stop and when it is okay to continue. However, the last question has me thinking..
Why don’t you just rest?
How often have I been asked that in my life? Why don’t you just rest? And there have been many times I have even been told, “You need rest.” Yet, for years up until the recent ones, the misunderstood motor of my mind has often driven me into falsely believing that this mentality of resting, and even contentment, is laziness. Both of which are false. It is not lazy to be content. It is not lazy to be working from a state of rest. In fact, it is freeing to learn to do so.
But what do I mean by this? And how have I even gotten to this point of learning this?
How have those ruminating thoughts and running routines turned into rhythms of REST?
From ruminating to rest…
From running to rest too…
it is all in the way we allow God to lead through.
It sounds contradictory and yet, it is quite the opposite. It is about that firm foundation on which we sit on, stand on and walk from. It is about remembering to always go back to it too. So let’s run back right now and begin here…
Running…
Where are we running?
When we think of the Book of Jonah, we probably think of a fish. However, there is so much more to learn from these pages. We must be careful to not become so fascinated by a fish that will lose sight of the foundation.
Jonah was a prophet in Israel during a time of evil. Like other prophets like Amos, Jonah was sent to deliver some news to the people. While Amos was sent with challenging news that would hopefully challenge and convict their hearts, Jonah was given good news to bring to the people that God would expand their borders, which with the powerful, brutal Assyrians nearby, was indeed news to rejoice over. When these words came true, Jonah was a hero to Israel.
So then what happened?
“Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” (Jonah 1:2 NIV)
Where was Jonah being sent to now?
He was being sent to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria. God was sending Jonah to a place filled with cruelty and evil. But why?
This enemy nation was finally losing power and momentum and now Jonah was being sent to help them. But why?
While I cannot speak for God ever and will not, God often sends people to others who are far from Him because of His great love for them. He longs for hearts to turn to or back to Him. Yet, this had to be so confusing to Jonah. We only know what we know. Sure, God can reveal Himself to anyone at anytime. However, often He sends us to share His good news. He sends us as vessels, much like He is doing in this passage with Jonah. They will only have the opportunity to know if someone shares. Yet, what does Jonah do?
He questions, “You want me to do what?”
Therefore, scripture continues with this…“But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid the fare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.” (Jonah 1:3 ESV)
What line is repeated here? Repetition should grab our attention while reading scripture.
“But Jonah ran away from the Lord…”
He ran away from the presence of the Lord.
Jonah fled to Tarshish. In Tarshish, the people had not yet learned about God’s goodness. Jonah ran to a place where no one knew about God. He was running far away from God. While we may not know in this chapter why Jonah attempted to run away from the Lord, we soon find out in chapter 4. In the meantime, the waiting of this story to unfold should bring us to reflect on this area in our own lives. Why do we ever run away from God? Do we even recognize the running? Are we running towards the fish that swallow us up in life or the foundation that rises us up?
God, You want me to do what?
Have you ever asked that in your own life?
Have you ever run from obedience to God?
Why do we do this?
What is the ROOT of our running? Is it fear? Misunderstanding? Caring too much about what the world thinks or what they will say? Is it pride?
And also this… What is the ROUTE of our running? Are we running into danger like Jonah or to the foundation and arms of our Protector?
For Jonah, chapter 4 explains his running. “But to Jonah this seemed very wrong, and he became angry. He prayed to the Lord, “Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity.” ( Jonah 4:1-2 NIV)
He resented the fact that God was allowing his enemies to repent. We need to recognize our own resentment or even any seeds that have been planted within. Do I have any bitterness growing, causing me to run and hide or even causing me to disobey God?
We must also go back to that infamous question I know I have had to go back to and reflect on often when life gets messy or when I feel stuck, even if it is not in the belly of a fish… Has God asked me to do anything that I have not yet done?
Sometimes our waiting is due to our lack of obedience to something already spoken to us or in our running to and on wrong routes. Talk to God about it. He knows what He is doing and He knows why He is guiding us to every single step. There are times that we will not understand it and there are times that we may not agree with it. However, may we always be faithful to following the prompt.
The calling of every Christian never changes. Some areas and missions include the following. We are called to love God and love others. ”Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:37-40)
Mark 16:15 adds to this when Jesus said to the disciples, “…Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.”
And of course, we must remember the call of the Great Commission, “Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:16-20 NIV)
According, to www.globalfrontiermissions.org, “it is estimated that of the 8.00 billion people alive in the world today, 3.40 billion of them live in unreached people groups with little or no access to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” Over 3 billion out of 8 billion people don’t know Jesus because they have little to no access to learning of Him. These statistics really checked my heart. How can we help in spreading the gospel? When we receive opportunities to do so, do we run from them or do we embrace them as they are part of our calling? How can we realistically spread the Good News every day and live out this great calling on our lives, instead of running from these opportunities? Here are some ways…
How can we realistically spread the Gospel and Good News every day?
Walk in love and look for ways to love others. That opens the doors to talk about God’s love.
Be a safe person not a judging one. Be a source of safety. Meet people where they are much like God meets us where we are. That doesn’t mean we condone sin we may see but instead we lean into the perfectly knit beauty God created within. People need to hear that they are perfectly loved and known already by our God who sees.
Listen. Encourage others to share their stories and testimonies.
Ask questions and encourage the asking of questions too. “Bible bashing” can only make for a headache but have a heart or pray for a heart that truly learns to lean into love. Share from that love. Share from our firm foundation.
Find an organization that spreads the Gospel to remote places throughout the world. Partner with them. Pray about possibly giving your tithes to them when and if you can.
Don’t run away from the calling. Run to the One who called. Sit at His right hand instead of rolling with the ruminating thoughts or emotions. Talk to God honestly about the frustrations, resentments, fears and doubts. He will provide, guide and equip us for everything He calls us to do. We definitely won’t find that in any belly of a fish.
Like we see, the book of Jonah is not just about a fish or about Jonah’s running, instead it is a mirror into our own lives.
What are we running to? What are we running from?
What thoughts, fears and even resentments are we allowing to stir up and within?
Recognize the negative ruminating thoughts before we too run away from God’s presence. We must learn to REST.
I know there have been many times in my life where I chose to go for a run instead of listening to my body tell me to rest. Also, we must learn that resting in God is trusting in the Lord and all that He shares for us to do and where He calls for us to be. And what a parallel that brings to our lives even if it’s not regarding working out.
Recently, I felt prompted to give something to someone and while I knew it to be ordered from the Lord, I allowed the doubt to enter as I waited until the last day to do it. While I knew it should be done by a specific date, I waited and planned to do it on that exact day. In my waiting, the heaviness grew. While I did not run, I felt the urge to rethink it all. Was I really told to do this? Maybe it could wait a week and I could see if the heaviness wasn’t so great then? And also this.. what if I am putting myself and my family in harm’s way in doing this?
That is when a few steps helped me tremendously from the negative rumination
To start, it was that exact point of recognizing the ruminating thoughts and fears and bringing them to God. When we are aware of the spiraling thoughts and emotions that are getting us nowhere fast, we must pause to pray. God, what do you want me to do about this? What do you want me to know?
Know this: God will answer. For me, in this moment, I then felt prompts to do two things: reach out to my husband for wisdom and discernment and a couple of dear sisters in Christ for prayer. In addition to that, I was reminded to look back at my prayer journal where I had initially recorded the prompt. (I find it so important to record and journal while in prayer for such reasons. Time may pass and get us to forget or doubt. However, time can not erase God’s Word and promises. Record them and stand on them. They stand the test of time.)
God’s protection goes with us when we are walking in obedience. Now, while I won’t share the specific reason I was facing fear in doing what I was called to do, I will state this. God would not send us and leave us. He is with us through it all. Right before this, He had reminded me of His army of angels and protection. Though I had not connected the dots until this moment, that image stands true. He is with us. Then, in my seeking, Psalm 91 continued to be shared with me throughout the remainder of that day as well as the next couple of days.
“If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;” (Psalm 91:9-11 NIV)
We must resist the running and turn to resting. Of course I’m not saying to stop exercising unless it is indeed time for resting there too. Instead, we must be careful of what we are running from and to? Or even this: what are we hiding from? God is guiding us through but are we paying attention to see it. I am finding that the best way to pay attention is to sit at His feet, beginning all things from a state of that kind of rest and trust. And when God answers, do we question or do we go? Do we reject it or do we accept it, walking in obedience?
“Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.” (Jonah 1:17 NIV)
“For as Jonah was three days and three nights in the belly of a huge fish, so the Son of Man will be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” (Matthew 12:40 NIV)
The scribes and Pharisees were given a sign through Jonah. Did they accept it?
No.
Before and after Jesus’ resurrection, their heart was calloused and they did not accept.
Today, what is our own heart’s posture? Again, where are we running? What are we running from and to? Is it from God and His plan or to it? Are we moving from a state of rest or moving until we fall, or even collapse, into inevitable rest? There is a difference. And this: are our hearts calloused to anything? Ask God about it. He will reveal and guide. Pray for softened hearts and hardened feet.
“God wants us to have soft hearts and hard feet. The trouble with so many of us is that we have hard hearts and soft feet.” ~Jackie Pullinger
We are called to walk on and in purpose wherever we find ourselves and yet we must start with sitting and being. It starts and all comes from God's presence. Like He reminded me during that week where I allowed doubt to question what I knew I had to do…
God’s presence is enough!
Faith in Jesus saves us from our sin and brings us the promise of eternal life… Heaven. I know I personally had this wrong for decades and yet there were people along the way who faithfully planted the seeds that God grew in my life. Let’s be such people, obedient to the planting even when we do not understand why or where we have been sent.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16 NIV)
“He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.” For “you were like sheep going astray,” but now you have returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:24-25 NIV)
Run to righteousness.
Run to restoration.
Run to the firm foundation on which we can always rest.
So today, let’s pause to really reflect again…
The Art of a Messy House Reflection: Are we running? Who do we know and love that is running from God and His plan? Pray for them. Let’s pray not to be like Jonah in his running away but instead let’s be like him in his repenting, turning back and accepting what and where God is calling us. Let’s reframe our thinking to view rest as restoration, not just at the last part of the process or as something we can only earn when everything is done. But instead, let’s trust God and run to rest with Him always. Rest is the place we go always, the place we work from, the place and table we all have a seat at. Let’s go and sit at the right hand of the Father in Heavenly places.
“As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (Ephesians 2:1-10 NIV)
Let’s run to rest.
Dear God, You are our Protector. I pray today to stop running anywhere but to You. Forgive me for being like Jonah in his running away but instead help me be like him in his repenting, turning back and accepting what and where You are calling me to be. Help me reframe my thinking to view rest as restoration, not at the last part of the process or something I can only earn when everything is done. But instead, I trust You and run to rest with You always. You are rich in mercy and I thank You. Help me be content in this season and obedient too. I pray it always points to You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A Prayer for Accepting Jesus: Do you know Jesus? When did you accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior? And if you haven’t yet, today can be that very day…
Dear God, Romans 10:13 states, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”(Romans 10:13 NIV). It is never too late to do this or renew this. And I thank you God for that.
Thank you Father in Heaven. Today I commit my whole life to you. Thank you Jesus. I accept and believe that you died on the cross for our sins, and that you rose again to give us new and eternal life. Forgive me of my sins and guide me to the will that you have for my life. Forgive me of everything that has separated me from you. Today I commit/recommit my whole life to you. I accept You, Jesus as my Lord and Savior today and every day for the rest of my life. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
What’s next? : Get connected with a Bible-based church in your area to continue this faith journey.
If you already have accepted Jesus as Lord and Savior, saying that prayer can reconnect our hearts to Christ. Also, reflect on these today in thanksgiving. What were you like before Jesus? How have you changed? What is your story? What about now? Where are you running? Is it to Him? Where are you resting? Talk to God straight from the heart. Prayers are conversations with the Lord. He already knows it all so that takes a weight off our shoulders, but He longs to hear from us too. And He loves YOU!
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