Chapter 28 - Don't Sink My Boat
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CHAPTER 28 - DON'T SINK MY BOAT
DO YOU HAVE A TRIBE THAT OFFERS WISE, GODLY COUNSEL?
IF NOT, WHO mIGHT YOU REACH OUT TO?
“The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the Lord. ‘Oh, why did you do it?’ they groaned.”
—Jonah 1:10 NLT
When my son was in grade school, he was very relaxed. Very rarely did he get in trouble. When he did, it was for being more interested in his thoughts than whatever
was happening in the classroom! On rare occasions, he would come home upset. When I asked him what was wrong, he’d say, “I got in trouble!”
“What happened?” I’d ask.
“Some of the kids were talking while the teacher was teaching, and the whole class got into trouble, and I had to stay in during recess!”
Oh, the age-old innocent suffering for the guilty complaint! The book of Jonah tells another story about the innocent suffering for the guilty.
Often when we read the book of Jonah, we get swept away by the swallowed-by-the-whale part of the story. But one day, I found myself drawn to the pages of Jonah in a different way. I wanted to read about this prophet who was called by God, given clear instruc- tions, and, instead of obeying, ran away.
In Jonah 1:1–2, God tells Jonah to go to Nineveh and warn the people to change their ways. By verse 3, Jonah has gone to Joppa, purchased a ticket, and booked a trip in the opposite direction. I find this a little bizarre. Jonah was a prophet, so we can assume he had an intimate relationship with God. Jonah also knew that God is everywhere. So it boggles my mind that Jonah thought he could run away. As the boat leaves for Tarshish, Jonah decides to take a nap. Meanwhile, God unleashes a powerful storm that threatens to break the ship apart.
The sailors cry out to their gods without success. After some time, the captain goes to find Jonah, wakes him up, and shouts,
“How can you sleep at a time like this? Get up and pray to your god! Maybe he will pay attention to us and spare our lives.” Then, the crew cast lots to see who had offended the gods and caused the terrible storm. When they did this, the lots identified Jonah as the culprit. “Why has this awful storm come down on us?” they demanded. “Who are you? What is your line of work? What country are you from? What is your nationality?
“I am a Hebrew, and I worship the Lord, the God of heaven, who made the sea and the land.” The sailors were terrified when they heard this, for he had already told them he was running away from the Lord. “Oh, why did you do it?” they groaned. (Jonah 1:6–10 NLT)
Let’s pause and park at this point in the story. What struck me as I read these verses is that because Jonah chose to operate outside God’s will, he endangered the lives of those around him. An example of the innocent suffering for the guilty. If you think about it, we do the same thing every day with our words.
We’re frustrated by people and situations, so we find a group, friend, or even strangers to share exactly what is on our minds. Don’t get me wrong—sometimes we need a place to talk and make sense of our feelings. However, there is a difference between “I’m struggling with this and need support to process and pray” and gossiping about people and situations. Let’s get a little more specific.
Have you ever had a conversation with someone, and the conversa- tion is moving along, and then someone shares an opinion, tidbit, or juicy piece of gossip that changes the entire tone or nature of the conversation? You were “sailing along in your boat of life,” then, like Jonah, their gossip or negative words brought the storm.
Just like God’s explicit instruction to Jonah, the Bible provides specific instruction when it comes to how we should talk about people and situations: “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.” (Ephesians 4:29 NIV)
Just like the sailors who had to live through Jonah’s storm, when we inject negativity into our conversations, we bring storms into the lives of others. Not only does our negativity bring frustration in the moment, but sometimes the words we share alter thoughts, opinions, and relationships for years to come.
If I make this personal, sometimes I need to get things off my chest. But the more I learn about the importance of speaking life into situations, the more I feel led to talk to God about it. Instead of sharing my frustrations with just anyone, I try to limit my conversations to a spiritual mentor or individual who will encourage me with a Godly perspective. More and more, I’m convinced that before we share, there are a few powerful questions we can ask ourselves:
1. Have I prayed about it?
2. Why am I about to share this?
3. Is this the right person to talk to about this? 4. How will my words impact the listener?
5. Should I hold my tongue?
During World War II, the phrase “Loose lips sink ships” began appearing on US posters. The poster design was intended to remind and encourage people not to carelessly talk and share information that might undermine the war effort. The British used the phrase “Careless talk costs lives.” The Swedish promoted “A Swede keeps silent,” and the Germans used “Shame on you, blabbermouth!”10 While some historians argue that the primary goal of these phrases was to censor the people, the fact remains that in times of war, if someone said the wrong thing to the wrong person, lives were lost.
For the past two chapters, we have discussed choice and tone of words. In this chapter, as we reflect on the timing and recipients of our words, we are reminded that at any moment, we can bring peace or pain into the lives of those around us. Like David, we can pray, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.” (Psalm 19:14 KJV) I believe that with God’s help, our words will lift people and situations up and never sink someone else’s boat.
Prayer
Dear Heavenly Father,
I’m human, and sometimes I need a release. I need a place to feel hurt, disappointed, and frustrated. In those moments, please help me to choose You first. Please help me remember You can comfort me in ways no human can! And when I need human advisors, Lord, help me to be wise and discerning and not vent with just anyone at any time. Instead, help me connect with people who can support me, pray with me, and remind me who You have called me to be. Thank You for being so patient and thank You for Your love.
Amen.
Meet The Author
Leah JM Dean is a bestselling author, speaker, coach, and trusted advisor to organizations and leaders across the globe. She is also Founder and CEO of Conduit International Ltd., a professional and personal development solutions company dedicated to helping organizations, leaders, and women work smarter, live well, and foster meaningful connections. A self-proclaimed recovering workaholic, Leah is passionate about helping her clients find strategies to optimize their work, invest in their wellbeing, and make a lasting impact on the lives of those they touch. To learn more about the book Be Different and pick up your copy, visit https://www.leahjmdean.com/be-different
