How to Fix Your Life

Stop Running from God

The word of the LORD came to Jonah… “Go to the great city Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.” But Jonah ran away from the LORD and headed for Tarshish. He went down to Joppa, where he found a ship bound for that port. After paying the fare, he went aboard and sailed for Tarshish to flee from the LORD. JONAH 1:1-3 NIV

Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! PSALM 139:7-8 ESV

I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead… 2 TIMOTHY 4:1 KJV

Take God seriously

And the LORD appointed a great fish to swallow up Jonah. And Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. JONAH 1:17 ESV

Disobedience to God is always worse than ignorance of God

For the time has come for judgment, and it must begin with God’s household. 1 PETER 4:17 NLT

Repent of my sin quickly

Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from the belly of the fish, saying, “I called out to the LORD, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. JONAH 2:1-2 NLT

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 PETER 3:9 TNIV

Serve God faithfully

“Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit God’s love for them. But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the LORD.’” JONAH 2:8-9 NIV

And the LORD commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. JONAH 2:10 NI

Then the word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time: “Go to the great city of Nineveh and proclaim to it the message I give you.” JONAH 3:1 NIV

My Notes

Personal Reflection Guide

Locate a quiet place that will help you to connect to God through a time of reflection. Ask Him to calm your emotions and to clear your thinking. Take several deep breaths. Go for a walk if you sense this will help. When you are ready, commit the time to God for His purposes. Reflect on the experience of Jonah and his running from God. What are your thoughts and feelings about his experience? Ask God if you are running away from any work He wants to do in or through you. What did He impress upon you about any actions He wants you to take to obey Him? Is there any sin you feel led to repent of and what would it look like to do this and follow Him? Close by asking Him specifically where He is calling you to serve Him now? In what ways is He showing you that this is where He wants you to serve? Pray He will reveal any hindrances you have that would make it hard to follow Him in this ministry. Ask that He will help you to overcome these hindrances and enable you to do this work, in His power, and for His purposes. Thank Him for His goodness and greatness and take an action this week to obey what He has led you to do.

Discussion Questions

Choose a couple of the following questions from each section that best fit your group. Or, have everyone read the questions, choosing which one(s) from each section that they feel led to respond to.

START HERE: What have you tried to avoid or fix by running away?

START HERE: Why do people run from God?

START HERE: What are people running to?

KEEP GOING: God is not chasing you to judge you; He’s chasing you to save you! How does this encourage you to stop running?

KEEP GOING: Read 2 Peter 3:9-15 (NLT). God’s slowness is actually His goodness. How has God been patient with you in the past and present?

KEEP GOING: Why is it important to repent of sin quickly, rather than letting it linger?

KEEP GOING: Read Jonah 2:2 (NLT). God didn’t simply let Jonah die after his rebellion. What does this teach us about the character of God, in light of 2 Peter 3:9?

KEEP GOING: Read Jonah 3:1-2 (NLT). What does God’s second command to Jonah teach us about second chances in our own lives?

LIVE IT OUT: The Lord has not promised that serving Him will be easy or convenient, but we are called to be faithful to the mission. Where specifically is God calling you to serve at this time?

LIVE IT OUT: God speaks and expects obedience. Is there a place in your life where God expects you to obey and you're delaying or disobeying? Confess this now to your group.