As I’ve penned Echoes of Grace for the last 14 years, over and over I’ve been surprised by the stores I’ve remembered, the stories God has brought to mind, like memorizing Jonah 2:8 many years ago.

“Those who cling to worthless idols
…”
Jonah 2:8 NIV

I don’t remember why I originally memorized that verse.

Last June as I listened to Vanessa Hawkins message on I Am The Door from John 10 at the Gospel Coalition* conference, and a few weeks later listening to a message by Nancy Wolgemuth on a Revive Our Hearts Video, God began weaving together threads that have been dangling for years. Nancy quoted Jonah 2:8 in her talk.

Vanessa spoke of the thieves and robbers who try to get into the sheep fold by another way. The sheep knew … and anyone else at that time … that there is only one door, one way for the sheep to go in and out and find pasture. John 10:1-10.

She also spoke of the deep longings, the desires that God has given us. They are good desires; they come from God. But when they become all consuming to me so much so that I become like a thief or robber in going after them, they become idols.

Idols! That’s a strong word.

Perhaps a modern day way of saying that would be when climbing the proverbial ladder to reach my goals becomes all consuming, then that goal has become an idol!

It was a light bulb moment.

God created in me a heart for him and a desire to minister to women. But my reality didn’t look like my expectations. So I became like a thief or robber trying to climb that ladder to create what I thought would bring my reality into line with my expectations. My desire had morphed into being an idol.

And in the process,

Google Images

“… forfeit the grace that could be theirs.”
Jonah 2:8 NIV

“Those who pay regard to vain idols
forsake their hope of steadfast love.”
Jonah 2:8 ESV

I knew I didn’t want to forfeit grace or forsake the hope of what God, the good shepherd, has promised. I didn’t want an idle faith.

I needed to learn the gift of trust. God, please show me what it would look like to trust you with the heart you have created in me. What would it look like today?

I still do not remember why I originally memorized Jonah 2:8 in NIV all those years ago. But I do know that God was beginning to weave a truth into my heart that I needed to live by.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.
I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.”
John 10:10

* You can listen to Vanessa Hawkins message on the Gospel Coalition website, TGCW24.

Copyright: Sue Tell, September 2024