Do you know the story of Jonah? You know, the guy who spent some time in the belly of the whale? His story can teach us a few things. God asked him to go to Ninevah to tell the Ninevites to repent of their evil ways. Well, Jonah didn’t want to do that so he disobeyed God and ran from Him. He got on a ship and sailed in the opposite direction of Ninevah! Deliberate disobedience. After a storm and spending 3 nights in the belly of a whale, Jonah confesses his failure to God. And what does God do? He gives Jonah a second chance. He called Jonah yet again to go to Ninevah. Jonah obeys this time.
Jonah readily obeyed God when He asked Jonah to go to Ninevah the second time.
What about you? Are you paralysed by failure when God asks you to do something? Or do you take God’s offer of a second chance?
I have a fear of failure. If I’ve failed at something, it’s my natural inclination to hide so I can’t fail again. God worked that inclination out of me when I kept failing my UK driving test. I really didn’t want to keep trying, but I believe God wanted me to eventually pass. I became dependent on Him—God is the only reason I passed and got my UK driving test!
Those who pay regard to vain idols
forsake their hope of steadfast love.
But I with the voice of thanksgiving
will sacrifice to you;
what I have vowed I will pay.
Salvation belongs to the Lord!” Jonah 2:8-9
I’m thankful we serve a gracious God who gives us 2nd chances when we mess up. We don’t need to be paralysed by failure when God calls us.
