Sitting in it
- Gary Fritsch
- Oct 7
- 2 min read
I can't help it. I have to write a little bit about Jonah. I feel like he is such an emblematic character in the Bible. He is reluctant to do what God asks him to do because of his deep-seated dislike (the kind word for it) for the people of Nineveh. He just can't let go of it. He can't get himself to the point where he can appreciate that God wants something good for the Ninevites. In this regard, he is US.
Let's just agree to put the BS aside for a moment and be completely honest. There are people in the world, it might be a particular group of people defined by geography, lineage, religion, politics, family, occupation or some personal belief or practice, that get under our skin. We don't understand what motivates them and we mostly don't like what they are doing. It might also just be A person. Someone who has wronged us or a family member. We can't seem to root for them.
Sometimes, in our more Christian moments, we can pray for them, but even in that, we pray that they will be 'corrected' and start doing things the 'right way', our way. Jonah so hates the Ninevites that the only way he can stir up the energy to preach the word of God to them is that he hopes God will destroy them. I sometimes think it is this fervent desire for their demise that makes him effective as a prophet and drives them to action. They put on sackcloth and sit in ashes as a sign of repentance. But Jonah sits in his anger and hatred.
How often do we find ourselves sitting in our anger. Are we open to the idea that God might do something great for them or through them? Does that make squirm? Do we trust that God has a plan and that He is in control, or do we think it is our job to right the ship and pass judgement?
God may very well have a role for us, as He did for Jonah. He might want us to speak out about certain things in our world, and we should follow that call - but we should not hope, as Jonah does, for the demise of the people. This leaves Jonah sad, alone, angry and wishing to die.
When you find yourself 'sitting in it', ask the Lord to lift you out. Ask Him for help with breaking through a sense of dislike (kind word) for a person or persons. When we sit in our anger we become sad and alone, which is not what God wishes for any of us.
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