Then the Lord spoke to Jonah again and said, “Go to that big city Nineveh, and say what I tell you.” So Jonah obeyed the Lord and went to Nineveh.

Have you ever disobeyed God and messed up so bad that you that you doubted He could forgive you? You may have thought to yourself, “Even if He did forgive me, there’s no way He could ever use me in His service.” Friend, that is a lie from the enemy of your soul. It is just not true!

Jonah was an Old Testament prophet who disobeyed God. You probably know the story of how God called Jonah to go to Ninevah, which was the capital of Assyria. Jonah did not obey the call of God and hopped on a ship going in the opposite direction. Through a series of divinely orchestrated events, Jonah found himself inside the belly of a great big fish for three days and three nights. After being vomited onto a beach, Jonah heard from God again in the verses for today. This time Jonah obeyed and went to Ninevah.

Jonah tried to run from God, but God’s call on Jonah’s life didn’t stop with Jonah’s disobedience. Jonah didn’t want to obey God, but that didn’t mean that God was giving up on Jonah. The same is true for you and me. You have probably disobeyed God at least once in your life. You might have even sinned in a colossal way or in many colossal ways. Your disobedience doesn’t negate God’s call on your life. Your disobedience doesn’t disqualify you from serving the Lord in whatever way He has gifted you.

There are consequences that go along with our disobedience, to be sure. Sin requires repentance, and we may have to endure some painful consequences, because we chose to disobey God’s Word. On the other side of the consequences, though, is forgiveness and a story that only you can tell. Your story can be used by God to bring glory to Him and encouragement to someone for whom Jesus died.

Do not let your past disobedience disrupt your future testimony. God can still use you and your story for His glory.

By Shawn Cornett, Bible League International staff, Indiana U.S.