Making the right choice isn’t always easy. Following Jesus and walking in the fear of the Lord often means facing hard decisions. Think of Noah, who was called to build an ark with his own hands (Genesis 6). Abraham, who left everything familiar to follow God to an unknown land (Genesis 12). Esther, who risked her life to go before the king and declared with resolve, “If I perish, I perish” (Esther 4:16). Or Peter and John, who boldly obeyed God rather than man (Acts 4:18–20; 5:29). Paul, too, pressed into hostile territories with the gospel, fully aware that persecution and prison awaited him.

 

In Jonah’s story, the sailors were faced with a hard choice: should they throw Jonah overboard, or try to fight through the storm and bring him safely to shore? After Jonah urged them to, they made the difficult decision and cast him into the sea. And then, something remarkable happened:

 

“Then the men feared the LORD exceedingly, and they offered a sacrifice to the LORD and made vows.” (Jonah 1:16)

 

These men didn’t just fear the Lord—they feared Him exceedingly. In that moment they realized God wasn’t someone to play with. You can’t outrun His sovereign hand or hide from His presence. Awestruck by His power, they offered sacrifice and worshiped Him. Their story reminds us: when it comes to hard choices, it’s always better to trust God in difficulty than to run from Him in disobedience.

 

Recently, I faced a much smaller hard choice. After a conversation, I realized I had said too much and needed to apologize. Everything in me resisted—apologies are uncomfortable, humbling, and sometimes even embarrassing. But I knew what God was asking me to do. I picked up the phone, made the call, and the Lord blessed it. The other person graciously received it, and we were both better because of it. In that moment, I was reminded: God doesn’t call us to hard choices so we can muscle through them alone. He goes before us, walks with us, and gives us just what we need.

 

“Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.’” – Matthew 16:24