Author Darlene J. Conard

Jonah sure did get himself in a bind. To the best of his ability, he tried ignoring the calling on his life. God said, “Go to Nineveh.” Absolutely not! He made up his mind! How could God send him to a sinful city to preach? Of course, he lost.   Jonah indeed chased himself right into an ugly, stinking, deep pit. Being in the belly of a whale is unimaginable. (Read the Book of Jonah)

In some way we’ve all been there. Innumerable circumstances I’ve found myself saying the same thing and doing the same thing, going in the opposite direction. I formulated excuses, reminding God of who I am not. He only reminds me of who I am in His sight.

God doesn’t set us up for failure. It’s a guaranteed misery is constantly there: all do to ignoring the call of God.

An evangelist shared his experience feeling God’s convicting power the day he said no to preaching the gospel. “I ignored it, acting like God wasn’t speaking to me. I didn’t sleep, couldn’t work, or feel peace in anything. His call overpowered what once gave me comfort. Finally, “he said, “I dropped to my knees and said, do with me what You will Lord.” The man was a drunkard at one time, always on the road driving here and there, bouncing around. Rev. Hassel Allen became a great mentor, along with my grandmother and Ange’s grandfather Benson Auxier. They are now at rest.

I encourage you, praying that you do understand God has called you, knowing that you are the man or woman for the job. Children are not discredited in the eyes of God.

We will save ourselves a lot of trouble by yielding to the call of God.

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved. Ephesians 1:3-5 KJV

• BLOG