Jonah’s Avoidance Is Ours As Well

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, ‘Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before me. But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. (Jonah 1:1-3a)

Avoidance is a destructive force. On the surface, it often appears to be the easier choice. Our brains are even good at rationalizing our avoidance because survival is our most powerful instinct. Sadly, our brains consistently do not balance levels of concern properly. We can be thrown into avoidance mode over tiny or momentous situations. Unless we are vigilant, we will begin to avoid all of life’s challenges.

Avoidance is a Biblical concept. Ask Jonah, whom God sent to the people of Nineveh with bad news. Jonah wanted to avoid the uncomfortable situation. Avoidance only made Jonah’s life worse. Avoidance led to his being swallowed by the big fish. In “Psychological Avoidance: Why Most People Get Stuck In Life,” Thomas Oppong tries to help us not get caught in Jonah’s trap. Avoidance comes in many forms. Procrastination and distraction are forms of avoidance most of us take part in daily. If you put something off for later or turn on the television at the end of a hectic day, you are walking down Jonah’s path.

Oppong reframes the false comfort of avoidance. Oppong states, “There’s nothing comfortable about putting your life on hold.” He continues, “Psychological avoidance behaviours are usually driven by fear, anxiety, or shame.” When we face our avoidance, we build our emotional maturity and strengthen our integrity. When we avoid challenges, we prevent the life we envision for ourselves. More importantly, avoidance derails the future God envisions for us.

Oppong’s recommendations for avoiding Jonah’s fate are fivefold. First, “Identify your triggers.” Second, “Challenge your self-sabotage thought processes.” We are required to face our fears and learn to evaluate each one. Facing our fears allows us to fulfill number three, “Build self-confidence.” Oppong also recommends we #4, “Take small steps.” Finally, number 5, “Reward yourself.” Rewards help us stay motivated and redefine our ability to overcome our fears and address life’s challenges. Then, when God calls us, we will not feel overwhelmed and swallowed up but stand tall with confidence and trust in ourselves and God’s direction.