When I was a child attending catechism classes, now called Faith Formation, at my Catholic church, one of my favorite Bible stories was of Jonah and the Whale from the Book of Jonah. The Bible story of Jonah tells of a Hebrew prophet, hence Jonah, who is sent by God to warn the city of Nineveh of its wickedness and impending destruction. Instead of heeding his calling, Jonah flees by purchasing a ticket on a boat headed to Tarshish, which is the opposite direction of Nineveh. He is later thrown overboard and swallowed by a large sea creature and prays to God for mercy. Once released, Jonah obeys God’s command and preaches to the people of Nineveh, who repented and turned from their wicked ways, thus rescuing them from God’s wrath.
I’ve been in what I’m calling a “Jonah Spring”. I’m trying to cleanse my life of toxicity and harmful circumstances. We all know the ending of Jonah’s experience, but I was recently rereading the Book of Jonah, and certain verses struck a personal chord. You see, a lot has been going on in my family life, and inherited, overwhelming responsibilities which I prefer not to get into. In my reading, I learned something about myself through the scriptures (it’s amazing that way), that I believe might help others too.
Jonah Thrown into the Sea
Jonah1:10-16
10 Then the men were exceedingly afraid, and said to him, “Why have you done this?” For the men knew that he fled from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them. 11 Then they said to him, “What shall we do to you that the sea may be calm for us?”—for the sea was growing more tempestuous.
12 And he said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will become calm for you. For I know that this great tempest is because of me.”
13 Nevertheless the men rowed hard to return to land, but they could not, for the sea continued to grow more tempestuous against them. 14 Therefore they cried out to the Lord and said, “We pray, O Lord, please do not let us perish for this man’s life, and do not charge us with innocent blood; for You, O Lord, have done as it pleased You.” 15 So they picked up Jonah and threw him into the sea, and the sea ceased from its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord exceedingly, and offered a sacrifice to the Lord and took vows.
Jonah knew he was the problem and caused God’s wrath, but the men on the boat didn’t want to throw him over at first—they felt guilty. So, they kept rowing, and the storm still raged on. Finally, when they cried out to the Lord and threw Jonah into the ocean, did the sea calm.
I realized through these scripture words, that if you want to change, you have to throw out “your Jonah”. That is, whatever is holding you back. Whatever has had a stronghold on you. If that Jonah has caused strife, disconnect, and pain, then it’s time to remove it from your life. And this is what I’m working on, being a better me, obeying the plans God has for me, and facing those awful situations head-on and casting them out into the abyss.
May you forge ahead in love, peace, and joy this Spring Season. Face those fears and get right!