The Lord said to Jonah son of Amittai, “Go immediately to Nineveh, that large capital city, and announce judgment against its people …” Instead, Jonah immediately headed off to Tarshish to escape from the commission of the Lord. … The Lord sent a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the stomach of the fish three days and three nights. (Jonah 1:1-3, 17)
Two weeks before a mission to the Middle East, I received a message from the brother arranging my trip.
“I am very sorry to let you know there are many problems in Pakistan. Bombing and shooting. It looks very dangerous, but do as the Lord leads you.”
It was a heated election season aggravated by volatile politics with America.
I asked the Lord if I should make the trip. He let me recall Revelation 12:11. But they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, and they did not love their lives so much that they were afraid to die.
What is safety? Jonah would say that running from ministry results in more danger, not less. He found himself tossed overboard into a killer storm and swallowed by a fish. Only when he obeyed God did the umbrella of protection open above him.
As I agonized over my Middle Eastern trip, I realized there were far greater dangers than the threat of deportation or death. I could lose my chance to honor Jesus in this life. Wasting my few earthly hours on my temporal self is the epitome of foolish, risky behavior.
Safety for the truest me comes from abiding in the exact spot God calls me to. Even if my health suffers, my bank account zeros, or my friendships sour—obeying God guarantees my soul is in the crosshairs of his protection.
I did go to Pakistan. We had to take precautions, such as traveling at night and posting guards, but I saw the kingdom of God expand with power. Serving Jesus under threat was like soaring beneath the wings of angels, whereas safeguarding my hide would have felt like being stuck in the belly of a fish.
Prayer: Father, help me obey your direction and rest in your protection.