By Jill Briscoe
The will of God is not always easy. Sometimes it is kittens and robins, koala bears and woolly lambs. But at other times it’s snakes and reptiles, lions and tigers, and whales! And what if Jonah couldn’t swim and feared fish—especially big fish?
Or, if we can’t identify with Jonah, perhaps we can identify with the little worm God sent to eat the vine. He certainly found that obedience doesn’t always taste sweet! Just think of that poor little worm. The job God chose for him was no piece of cake—nor a piece of vine to be more precise! Worms don’t usually eat six-foot vines! But the Word says, “God provided a worm.” He specially prepared the little thing, for He never calls without equipping. Even a worm can do what God wants him to do if he’ll obey his Maker. Perhaps we cannot identify with Jonah—after all, we don’t think of ourselves as mighty prophets—but what about identifying with the little worm?
Have you ever looked at Nineveh as Jonah looked at it—or at the vine as the little worm did—and wanted to turn tail and run? What right thing has God called you to do? What words must be written, what phone call made, what relationship mended, what peace made? What teenager needs confronting, or what elderly person needs to be cared for? What action has God’s voice been directing you to take? Will you obey?
Do you even know how to start? For if you do not start, it is certain you will never finish! Why not take a lesson from the little worm? Just take the first bite. Do the first obvious thing. Even if you think it will poison you, do it anyway. Don’t worry about the second bite, or the third, or the fourth. Just start, and soon you will have finished the whole thing.
Many of us have found ourselves presented with an opportunity that seems heaven-sent—yet we feel ill-prepared. We question, “Did God really mean me?” At times like these, we need to remember to walk by faith, and not by sight; to be obedient to His will. Our gracious Father never gives us a challenge we can’t handle.
As Christians, being obedient to God can be tough. But, we can be assured that whatever God is asking of us is for the best - even if we can't see it yet.
"But this command I gave them: ‘Obey my voice, and I will be your God, and you shall be my people. And walk in all the way that I command you, that it may be well with you." (Jeremiah 7:23 ESV)