Saturday, April 23, 2011

Jonah and Me

I am ashamed to admit that I was just like Jonah yesterday....not the good Jonah who eventually went and proclaimed the message God had for Ninevah...but the Jonah after the deed was done.

Let me explain:

I had to participate in a potentially difficult meeting yesterday. An incident had been brewing and it was time to have a chat with someone to attempt to correct the situation. The meeting went really well...much better than could have ever been anticipated! What a praise! What a great thing! Right?

Well...later in the day yesterday, I realized that I wasn't right emotionally. It took me a while to put my finger on the whole thing. But then it hit me!...I was mad that the meeting went so well. Apparently, deep down (okay..not so deep), I wanted a different result. I wanted this person to leave the group. I wanted this person to pay just a little (or a lot) for some of the trouble that I felt I suffered.

Wasn't that just what Jonah did after Ninevah responded positively to God's message? Shouldn't he have been thrilled that they realized the mistake they were making and stopped immediately and repented? I have always thought that his reaction was strange. Who would react the way he did?

Well...it was humbling, painful, and embarrassing to realize that I was responding just as Jonah did. I am grieved that I didn't immediately praise God for HIS faithfulness in this situation. It was a near miracle of Ninevah-sized proportions that the time was so very positive and instead of rejoicing, I chose to make it all about me...mope about...and then be a bit angry at God.

I hope I don't respond like that ever again! I am praying that this was a wake up call for me!

3 comments:

Katie said...

Mrs. DeBusk, I am having the same problem right now. I love you mucho and thanks so much for being honest about your struggles. :)

Lisa Jacques Elam said...

What a great post. It sounds to me like that was very much a God moment in your life. Without the anger there never would have been the lesson. God works in many ways....even through anger. Again...great post.

Sara Hull said...

Dear Lisa, how I love your openness with your struggles! Surely everyone has experienced this at one time or another? I know I have when someone I was angry with was not "excommunicated" so to speak. God does not always choose to humble us for our mistakes. When I look in the mirror of my own mistakes I am SO glad! Isn't it beautiful that He sees our hearts, and still loves us so completely?!