Are You a Jonah? Holding on to Resentments?
Oftentimes in active addiction, we find ourselves running in the opposite direction from what is best for us. Running, until we are finally cast into the storm of desperation either on our own or by others, and swallowed by a ‘whale’ of despair, grief, hurt, hang-ups, pain, and ‘resentments’. One of the most popular “Sunday School’ stories of the Old Testament is about the prophet Jonah told in 4 chapters with so many analogies. Analogies that relates to our addiction and running away from the will of God in our lives.
Following the tradition of my college professor Dr. Mary Carter Waren of St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens Florida, she would often ask of her students to tell the story of Jonah in 25 words or less. Here goes, “Jonah was a prophet who God gave specific instructions to warn a city that it would be destroyed in 40 days if they did not repent.” There it is; in exactly 25 words. But it needs more than 25 words to examine the heart of Jonah. The heart that God went after, and the heart that He is right now going after in all of us.
Running from God in disobedience is where many of us live today. God has given us specific instructions, yet we make the choice to do it our way (free-will). Like Jonah, we head in the opposite direction to shirk the direct instructions of God, our Higher Power, the God of your understanding, or the God of your construct. I will attempt to dissect Jonah this week in my blogs, so that we do not miss the nuggets that have been strategically placed in the book of the prophet Jonah.
Lesson 1.
To begin, let’s examine God’s choice of the ‘mail man’ Jonah. Here it is evident that even as a prophet (a messenger of God) there will be tasks given to us that is against our desires. In Isaiah 55:8-9 it clearly states, “Nor are your ways My ways,” says the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, So are My ways higher than your ways, And My thoughts than your thoughts.” Jonah did not like the Ninevites whom God had sent him to preach to and warn of impending destruction. These Ninevites had murdered, plundered, and tortured his ancestors and he wanted justice. Jonah wanted the Ninevites dead. And we can relate to this in our addiction. So many things have been done to us, that we have built up hate and resentments that we walk around all day with in our suitcases. Resentments plays a huge role in our active addiction.
For those of us who pray the Lord’s Prayer we need to be mindful what we are praying. We pray, “Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” But do we really want forgiveness for ‘those who trespass against us’? We ask for forgiveness on our behalf, but want justice for those who have ‘trespassed against us’, holding them hostage by their throats. Sounds familiar? There are resentments that daily contribute to our addiction. And if we simply let go of them, we have began the process of ‘breaking the chains’ of our addiction that has held us captive for too long.
Thus, letting go of resentments is the first applicable lesson in Jonah for everyone, including those who are not in drug addiction. Try it you may like it! Remember God is coming after your heart just as he came after Jonah’s heart; which is where recovery begins…with a ‘changed heart’. Look out for lesson 2 tomorrow. And you think about it!
Good morning!
This coming Sunday is Back to Church Sunday. Invite someone who has not attended church for some time. For more information on this an other activities check out www.daybreakassembly.org
Remember, ‘nothing changes if nothing changes’ and ‘the same person will always use’.
Have a great day in the Lord. You deserve it!
From the desk of Andy Ansola