Then the LORD sent a great wind on the sea and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. Jonah 1:4
God had told Jonah, a prophet, to go to the city of Nineveh and preach against it. Nineveh was known as a rough and tough city that did not believe in God at all. Jonah had refused to go and tried to run away from God. He got on a boat and went the opposite direction. While on the boat God sent a great storm to destroy the boat.
The sailors, who did not necessarily follow God, recognized that the storm was unusual and was from some god. They also knew that Jonah was running from his God. The storm did get the sailors and Jonah’s attention. Jonah has them throw him overboard and the storm stopped immediately.
There are people who hear the voice of God calling them, but they refuse to follow Him at all. They attempt to run from Him. As they do they will often feel uncomfortable and convicted. Many will grow angry with believers because they feel as though they are being targeted, when in reality it is God who is trying to get their attention.
Along with the people who never knew God, there are many in the church who have chosen to walk away from God. They are refusing to do what God wants them to do, yet they still go to church every week. They try to live as a believer, even though they are not doing what God has asked of them. God knows right where they are and is trying to get their attention.
Believers who are living like that are usually very miserable. They do not have any joy in their life, because they know they are running from God and what He wants. There is no peace in running. The calamities that come up in life are God trying to get their attention back onto Him.
If you are one of those who are running from God, it is time to turn around and run back to Him. God always welcomes back His children. God is also always right there where you are. You cannot run away so far that God does not know where you are. Live for God and do what He wants, it is a fulfilling and great life.
I pray today that you will do what God wants; that you will never run from God; that you will always be walking with God; and that God will be able to use you to build His kingdom.
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