Delayed Obedience = Disobedience

“But Jonah ran away from the Lord…” Jonah 1:3

This week, as I was reading the book of Jonah, something struck me deeply.

You know the story... God called Jonah to preach to the people of Nineveh, but he ran away (a very, very short version). There are many lessons we can learn from this story, but I wanted to briefly share what the Lord spoke personally to me.

Jonah didn’t obey the Lord right away. He didn’t just hesitate, he deliberately ran from the mission God had given him. And because of some struggles I’ve been dealing with, I found myself thinking, “Well, I can’t blame Jonah, I’m also putting aside a mission God gave me.” After all, procrastination is also a form of running away.

Jonah’s story also reminded me of the man in Jesus’ parable who buried his talents instead of multiplying them (Matthew 25:14–30).

Have you (like me) been postponing something God called you to do?

It’s not just about being busy or unsure, it can be a quiet, subtle rebellion or negligence. And it’s also a way of burying the talents, gifts, and opportunities God has entrusted to us.

Delayed obedience is still disobedience. And the longer we wait, the more we miss the blessing of being part of what God is doing.

"Lord, forgive me for the times I’ve delayed obeying You. Give me courage to answer Your call, even when it’s uncomfortable, even when I feel unqualified. Help me to trust that You go with me and that Your plans are always good. May I not bury what You’ve placed in my hands. Amen."