When God called Jonah to go to the people of Nineveh, he went in the opposite direction – toward Tarshish (Jonah 1:2-3). Most of us have learned in Sunday School as children that he went into the belly of a great fish (and many people today think it was a whale) and was spat upon land three days later (can you imagine the stench?).
I saw the below National Geographic video recently of a picture of a whale approaching a man and was amazed at the enormity of the size differences. This helps put this story into more perspective.
However, the reason I bring this up is because it is important to seek what God would have you to do in life – and then go for it.
In my junior high years, I believe that God called me to counsel others. So, what did I do? Naturally, I went into studying computer science. (huh?) I honestly wasn’t trying to run away from counseling, I thought it was a good idea; however, I thought it was a good second plan. I soon found out that God doesn’t want to be put on one’s second shelf of their life… He wants obedience and faithfulness.
So, after a series of events which took me out of my comfort zone and put me very dependent upon God for sustenance (at one point, I had less than $10.00 to my name), I raised my hands in surrender and told him that I would do what He had called me to do. After several months of difficult circumstances, the very next day, new doors started opening (wouldn’t you know it?!?). I didn’t have the means to get an education to become a counselor (at that time); but, in time, God supplied that entire need through some generosity and mostly my diligent work.
Interestingly, God has still used the computer background I obtained for His glory as it has helped me with my employment and promotion in various capacities. However, life may have been much easier if I would have just listened in the first place.
All of that is to say: Don’t run from your calling and make sure that your potential spouse isn’t running away (or even delaying) his or her calling as well. You don’t want to marry a person who is willing to give up what they believe God would have them do for you. And because a sense of calling and direction is so important, you may even want to delay engagement to someone if he or she has no direction or understanding what God would have them do with his or her life.
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