Then the Lord sent a great wind on the sea, and such a violent storm arose that the ship threatened to break up. Jonah 1:4
Thus far we have seen God deliver a command to Jonah with Jonah subsequently fleeing from God’s command. He jumped on a ship and headed to the opposite side of the world. But while on that ship, his safety comes into question.
It is comforting to know that God cares enough about us enough to course correct our lives. This is what this storm for Jonah was. God would not allow Jonah to run from who God called Him to be. We can rest easy knowing that if God has a task for us he will see us complete it one way or another.
This also means that God will bring both boys and storms into our life for a course correction. I am sure Jonah expected God to reprimand him for his mistake, but do we really think Jonah understood the lengths to which God would go? I doubt it. If Jonah knew this, I don’t think he would have boarded that ship. Even though Jonah did the wrong thing in the rightest way in which it could be done ( paid for his fare, etc.), it did not make his running from God right. If you go contrary to the Lord’s will, even though you do it in the most decent, and, perhaps, in the most devout manner, it is, nevertheless, sinful, and it will bring you under condemnation. We can react to this part of the story with fear, but I see this as comforting.
You don’t have to be perfect. God is going to get you where you need to go. Trust His commands and trust His plan. If you are going through a storm, ask God, “where are you trying to course correct my life?” Let the answer to that question be your direction. Most importantly develop your heart to be okay with whatever that answer may be. We choose almost everything in our daily lives, but we do not choose God’s call on our life. This will require radical submission. Are you excited and ready to submit to God’s will?