Sometimes, when crisis hits, we become open to things we rejected before. We were closed off to them before. But when you’re in a place of crisis or desperation, an unexpected curveball gets thrown your way, all of a sudden – you open up your options.

Curveball: Sometimes God is nudging us to do things that we’re closed off to. That we shut down and dismiss. Over and over. But then, a crisis comes. Desperation comes. A curveball comes. And things change. We become open to what God was calling us to do.

Life is going to throw you some curveballs. Unexpected things will happen. Because life doesn’t follow a script. Tragedies will occur. Crisis will hit your life. And even though God didn’t necessarily throw the pitch, he can use it to move you towards something new.

What if God is using a new crisis in your life to bring you to something new? A new initiative? A new opportunity? A new relationship? A new calling?

1 The Lord gave this message to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh. (Promptly. Don’t wait. If God tell us to something, it’s for now. Not later)

3 But Jonah got up and went in the opposite direction to get away from the Lord. He went down to the port of Joppa, where he found a ship leaving for Tarshish. He bought a ticket and went on board, hoping to escape from the Lord by sailing to Tarshish. [J. 1:1-3] 

Calling trumps comfort. God’s call in your life puts your comfort on the backburner. In fact, most of the time, you have to choose between God’s call or your comfort.

God’s calling is not about you. It’s about him. 

This isn’t about what you can do. This is about what God can do in your life. Calling requires the strength of God. If you can do it without God, your calling isn’t big enough. It’s based on comfort, not faith. God’s calling will stretch you.

So Jonah fled. And God kept trying to get his attention so he would turn back.

4 But the Lord hurled a powerful wind over the sea, causing a violent storm that threatened to break the ship apart. 5 Fearing for their lives, the desperate sailors shouted to their gods for help and threw the cargo overboard to lighten the ship. But all this time Jonah was sound asleep down in the hold. [1:4-5] (Can you sleep through a storm?)

15 Then the sailors picked Jonah up and threw him into the raging sea, and the storm stopped at once! 16 The sailors were awestruck by the Lord’s great power, and they offered him a sacrifice and vowed to serve him. 17 Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights.

Well sometimes, when crisis hits, we become open to things we rejected before.  Or callings that didn’t seem like a good idea before. But now, in the crisis, in the rock bottom moment, it’s your only choice.

7 As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple. 8 Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies. 9 But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows. For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.” [Jonah 2:7-9] 

I will fulfill my vow to you, Father! Because when you’re in a fish, your prayer changes. Sometimes, we need to go through a phase of complete desperation before we realize just how dependent on God we really are. When Jonah had other options, and he could just hop on another boat, he wasn’t dependent on God. But then the fish comes. And suddenly, he’s open to calling. Now that I’m in this fish – now, I’m open to what I said no to before. Because I’m desperate.

God uses crisis to move you towards your calling. 

When I’m strong, I’m in control. When I’m weak, I’m not. When I’m strong, I can present myself as having no flaws in my life. When I’m weak, the mask falls off. And then, God says ‘There. Now I can use you.’ Because we are finally handing over control to him. When I’m weak, that’s when God can show off. Because it’s his power, not mine.

10 Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach. 3 1 Then the Lord spoke to Jonah a second time: 2 “Get up and go to the great city of Nineveh, and deliver the message I have given you.” 3 This time Jonah obeyed the Lord’s command and went to Nineveh, a city so large that it took three days to see it all. [Jonah 2:10-Jonah 3:3] 

Where are you doomed to fail if God doesn’t show up?