“The Lord spoke his word to Jonah son of Amittai: “Get up, go to the great city of Nineveh, and preach against it, because I see the evil things they do.” But Jonah got up to run away from the Lord by going to Tarshish.” Jonah 1:1-3 ncv
Many years ago I felt God giving a yank on my heart and that yank has a name: Scarlet Hope. God will not be ignored. My analogy, most respectfully, is that His Utmost can be just like a dripping faucet.
Him:”You know I want you involved in this ministry”
Me: “Um, yeah God I’ll find out about it.”
Drip… “But God that ministry scares me a bit. Those clubs aren’t the safest places. I’ll make a deal with you, I’ll serve on the cook-team.” I’m sure I heard thunder from His laughter at my attempts to cut a deal with Him. The cook-team seemed like a good fit; I loved to cook, and it is important to the ministry. There, God would be appeased.
The dripping continued, and I continued ignoring Him. The problem with ignoring God is that He doesn’t cower to us and He refuses to be ignored. Drip…”Angela, the cook-team is great and necessary but you know where I want you.” I ignored.
Then He jerked a holy knot in my tail. He shouted at my heart, “Look Angela, I have been patient with you but you know where I want you.” Listening to the stories of the women who were graduating that night I was broken. “Ok, Lord, wherever you say, I’ll go.”
Several years and many drips later I find myself entrenched in the ministry that has my heart in a death grip. There has been nothing other than my God and my family that has meant more to me. The women I have met have stolen my heart as well. I often tell them that they inspire me with their genuine authenticity- something many of us struggle with.
God has shown His glorious Self time and time again through this ministry He has given me. My husband says that I just glow on the days I volunteer. A piece of that is probably from the silence of holy dripping, at least for now.
When was a time you pulled a Jonah? I’m not alone am I?
