There are a lot of memes going around about the year 2020. One of the funniest ones is probably this:
Q: If 2020 was a drink, what would it be?
A: A colonoscopy prep.
It’s been an interesting year, to say the least. Remember when we were most concerned about the full moon, time change, and Friday the 13th happening in the same week? We were so naïve.
While no one could have anticipated the type of year 2020 has turned out to be, hope is not lost. We still have a choice of how we will react. What will we make of this year?
Jonah had a choice to make too. God had a plan for him, and asked him to do something that he didn’t understand. Nineveh? But God, don’t you know what those people are like?
Go to Nineveh.
But God, they won’t listen.
Go to Nineveh.
But God, they are awful.
Go to Nineveh.
I’m going to go to Tarshish.
We all know how the story ends up. Jonah is swallowed up by a great fish, where he spends three days in prayer asking God for forgiveness. And the God of second chances gives him another chance to obey.
So the question remains: What is your Nineveh? What is God asking you to do that you haven’t done yet because you feel like you know better than He does? Maybe it’s getting to know a neighbor you haven’t gotten to know yet. Maybe it’s someone who is difficult to love, but God says to love them anyways. Maybe it’s a family member who needs to hear about God’s love for them, but it’s uncomfortable, so you haven’t stepped out in faith.
Just like Jonah, God is calling us to do something. Read that again. The God of the universe has called you for a purpose. Like Jonah, we have to choose obedience or disobedience. God doesn’t call us to a life of comfort and relaxation. He calls us out of our comfort zone to reach out into the world—telling others about God’s great love.
This year has been an interesting year, there is no doubt about that. But all hope is not lost. And your calling is still clear. We have the choice to make this year a year of obedience. Let’s not focus on what has gone differently than we expected. But instead, we can focus on God’s plan for us. How will we make an impact for God’s kingdom? Ask God today what plan He has for you. And then listen for the answer. It’s time to step out in obedience, and see what God will do.
