Returning to Obedience (Week 22)

​When I was a teenager, a family member became entangled in a drug addiction. The struggle lasted for fifteen years, and tore our family in so many directions.
 
Until recently, I still held a lot of anger in my heart towards him. I knew how much God had loved and forgiven me. I knew how much God had loved and forgiven him. But to be honest, I was torn between wanting God to save him, but also feeling like he didn’t deserve it.
 
For years I tried to manufacture love for him, outside of complete forgiveness. After many years, I finally realized this family member had bigger demons he was dealing with. By the grace of God, finally, I decided to trust and obey. Once I yielded to Him, slowly but surely, God opened my heart to extend compassion.

 Have you ever wanted to run from what God was clearly asking you to do?
That’s where we find Jonah in this week’s reading— running in disobedience.
 
Every time I read the story of Jonah, I am reminded of myself. I can look back to several times when I did not want to be obedient to the Lord. Sometimes what He was asking me to do was outside of my comfort zone. Other times, like Jonah, I simply didn’t agree with what he was asking me to do.
 
Jonah loved God and was told to deliver a hard message to Nineveh: repent from their evil ways or God would destroy everything. Jonah tried to flee so he would not have to go because he not-so-secretly hated the Ninevites. However, God sent a great fish to swallow him whole.
 
Yes, God has His ways of getting our attention. While he was in the belly of this fish, Jonah prayed. God commanded the fish to release Jonah, and spit him onto the shore. Then, again, He commanded Jonah to go to Nineveh. 
 
After delivering God’s “turn and repent or be destroyed” message to the people of the great city, the people believed. The King declared a fast, and God had compassion on the whole city. You would think Jonah would be happy that they listened, after all he had been through. However, he was not happy because he did not agree with God’s compassion on them.

Like Jonah, obedience is the hardest for me when forgiveness is required. Unlike our fickle feelings, God’s love and compassion never fails. God never gave up on Nineveh, but He also never gave up on Jonah. He didn’t give up on my family member, or on me, and, friend, He won’t give up on you either.
 
Thankfully, God is forgiving and extends grace that is sufficient for each of us. If we stop and listen, He will point us in the right direction. When we realize His great compassion toward us, we are able to extend it to others. Return to walking in obedience, and open your heart to receive His compassionate love today and every day. 

About the Author

Hello! I’m Brenna Kurz.  I am married to my best friend, Josh. We have two beautiful children, Evelyn (4) and Ethan (2). I enjoy working out, spending time with my family and traveling to new places. I have experienced the grace of God in many situations over the last several years and I'm passionate about sharing my story with others. I hope by sharing, I can help others better understand the love of God— that He is always good, faithful and how very important it is to have a community because you can't do life alone!

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