A Prayer about Tarshish Looking Good
The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: “Go to the great city of 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. (Jon. 1:1–3 NIV)
Jesus, Tarshish is looking pretty good to me today, and it wouldn’t be very hard to buy a ticket to start sailing in that direction. As I start my day, I’m more aware of the demands of the gospel than the delights of the gospel. That’s not news to you, but it’s good for me just to “get it out there.” If I could offer you only selective obedience, there’d be no problem. But you are asking me to go to some places and some people I’d just as soon not see till heaven.
I understand Jonah’s struggle, but more importantly, you understand mine. No one has wrestled with doing the will of God more than you, Jesus. No one has been more honest about the price of obedience. No one counted the cost more carefully than you. You sweat blood; I sweat only water. You were thinking about the great needs of others; I’m thinking primarily about me and how much I want a hassle-free, mess-free, conflict-free life.
This is why it’s so easy for me to come to you today without editing my feelings, repackaging my angst, or spinning my thoughts: because I’m one of those people you were thinking about as you prepared to go to the cross. As you cried out, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they’re doing,” you had me in view. As you crushed the head of the serpent, you had me in mind. As you were raised from the dead, you had me in your heart. When you spoke the words to Mary, “Don’t be afraid,” it wasn’t just for her benefit but for mine as well.
Just talking to you this morning, I’m feeling better, Jesus. It’s not that all of a sudden I now want to go to Nineveh. But I am feeling a little less inclined to break in line at the ticket counter to pay my fare to Tarshish. Thank you for being so welcoming, patient, and understanding.
Jesus, you paid our fare for a life in the new heaven and new earth, and you’ll walk with us every step of the way and be with us every moment of the day until then. Even as I’m not thrilled about my current and future assignments to Nineveh, to know that you are with us and for us should be enough. Surprise me with the power of the gospel. Make my resigned heart into a willing and glad heart. I pray in your loving name.
Amen.