As I sat down to reflect on Jonah’s journey, I couldn’t help but see myself in his story. Jonah was a man who ran from God’s calling, only to be pulled back by God’s relentless grace. Like Jonah, I too tried to escape God’s plan for my life, but The LORD has a way of orchestrating events to bring us back to His purpose.

JONAH THOUGHT HE COULD IGNORE GOD’S PURPOSE

The book of Jonah begins with rebellion—Jonah running as far as he could from God’s call to go to Nineveh. He was a prophet, yet he resisted God’s plan, driven by his prejudices and personal grievances. Jonah cared more about his nation’s political standing than the salvation of those God had called him to reach. In his mind, Nineveh didn’t deserve God’s mercy, so he fled in the opposite direction.

I can relate to that. There was a time when I thought I could outrun God’s purpose for my life. I was focused on my own plans, my own desires, and like Jonah, I cared more about what I wanted than what God was asking of me. But God’s plans are far greater than our limited perspectives. When we resist His call, He has a way of bringing us back to where we need to be, even if it means going through a storm.

GOD’S WISDOM IS SUPREME

Jonah eventually repented and followed God’s command, but even after seeing the Ninevites turn from their wicked ways, he struggled to accept God’s mercy toward them. Jonah wanted justice, not grace. It’s a common struggle—we often want forgiveness for ourselves but justice for others. God’s wisdom, however, is beyond our understanding. He sees what we cannot, and His plans are always for our good, even when they don’t align with our own.

I’ve walked through seasons where I questioned God’s wisdom, especially when life didn’t go the way I thought it should. But time and again, I’ve learned that God’s timing is perfect, and His understanding far surpasses mine. In those moments of doubt and frustration, He reminds me that He is in control, and His plans are always better.

JONAH’S REAL PROBLEM WAS A HEART ISSUE

As Jonah waited outside the city, hoping for its destruction, God provided a plant to shade him from the scorching sun. But when God took the plant away, Jonah’s true heart was revealed. He cared more about his comfort than the souls of an entire city. It was a heart issue—a battle between self-interest and God’s will.

Looking back, I see how God used circumstances in my life to reveal my own heart issues. There were times when I was more concerned about my comfort, my reputation, than the mission God had placed before me. But God, in His mercy, didn’t leave me there. He used both great and small things—much like the plant and the worm in Jonah’s story—to guide me back to where He wanted me to be.

GOD USES BOTH GREAT & SMALL THINGS TO GUIDE ME

God’s plan is always unfolding, even in the details we might overlook. Sometimes, He allows us to be swallowed by circumstances so we can be redirected. Other times, He provides comfort in unexpected ways, only to later remove it so we don’t get too comfortable. It’s all part of His divine setup.

I remember being in a place where everything seemed to be going wrong. It felt like I was stuck in a pit with no way out. But it was in that pit, much like Jonah in the belly of the fish, that I realized God was setting me up for something greater. He was stripping away the things that didn’t matter so I could focus on what did—His calling on my life.

REMEMBER TO FOCUS ON WHAT WILL LAST FOREVER

Jonah’s story ends with God reminding him—and us—of what truly matters. Jonah was more concerned about a withering plant than the souls of 120,000 people. It’s a sobering reminder to focus on what will last forever: God’s Word and the souls He desires to save.

As I reflect on my journey from prison to pulpit, I see how God has been at work all along, orchestrating a divine setup. He’s taught me to let go of the temporary and invest in the eternal. The things I once held dear—my plans, my comfort—now pale in comparison to the joy of walking in His purpose.

So here I stand, like Jonah, a reluctant servant turned obedient messenger, grateful for the lessons learned along the way. And as I continue this journey, my prayer is that I never lose sight of the eternal, that I remain focused on the mission God has set before me, and that I always remember—His plans are better, His wisdom is supreme, and His love is relentless.