My Disobedience Had Consequences

In the Bible, we read the story of Jonah—a prophet who disobeyed God by refusing to deliver the message God gave him. As a result, God had to intervene and redirect Jonah’s path.

I call this my Jonah story because I, too, resisted what God was asking me to do. I made excuse after excuse until He stepped in and made His will unmistakably clear.

Wrestling with Doubt

My story begins a few months before that moment of disobedience. During that season, I struggled deeply with doubt and unbelief. Personal struggles had overwhelmed me. I felt like God was distant—silent even. I cried out to Him, but it seemed my prayers went unheard. I reached a point where I was simply tired of living and began to really question if God and Jesus were reality.

Then, one day, everything changed.

God revealed Himself to me in a powerful and undeniable way. That encounter shattered my doubt and confirmed His presence and reality in my life.
(If you haven’t read that part of my story, I’d love to share it with you—please read my full testimony.)

After that experience, I knew in my heart that I was supposed to share what God had done for me. But knowing and obeying are two different things.

The Mission Trip

A few months later, my church youth group went on a mission trip to Mexico. We traveled from Colorado in an old school bus; a 21-hour drive over a couple of days.

Each evening, we gathered for devotionals and reflection—a time we called “share time”—where we spoke about how we saw God at work that day.

From the very first night, the Holy Spirit gently urged me to share my story—how God had made Himself real to me. But I hesitated. I dreaded public speaking, so I told myself, “I’ll do it tomorrow.”

That became my daily response.

Even once we arrived in Mexico and continued our nightly share times, I kept postponing. “Tomorrow,” I’d say—again and again.

But tomorrow never came.

A Broken Bus and a Wake-Up Call

After a week in Mexico, we began the journey home. Somewhere in the middle of Texas, our bus broke down. This was the early 1980s, long before cell phones. Thankfully, a kind driver stopped and helped us connect with a local church, which generously arranged for our bus to be towed and found a nearby school gym where we could sleep.

While we waited for the repairs, we continued our evening share times—sometimes inside, sometimes on the school lawn. Again, the Holy Spirit stirred my heart: “Share your testimony.”
And again, I made excuses.

The mechanic kept searching for the necessary part, calling around to other towns. (This was long before the internet made those kinds of searches easy.) Day after day passed—no part, no fix. And still, I said nothing.

Then, on the third or fourth evening, as we sat together on the lawn, the mood had shifted. Everyone was tired, frustrated, and homesick. Share time became more of a complaint session than a devotional time.

And then a chaperone spoke up. What she said struck me like a bolt of lightning:

“It feels like we’re living out the story of Jonah. Someone in this group has been told by God to share something but hasn’t obeyed. Our bus won’t get fixed until they obey and do what God’s been asking them to do.”

Her words hit me like a sledgehammer.

I knew—I was Jonah. God had been prompting me day after day, and I had resisted. I couldn’t ignore it any longer. I couldn’t hide behind excuses anymore.

As soon as she finished speaking, I said quietly, “That would be me.”
And right then, I shared my testimony. (Read testimony here.)

 A Shift in the Atmosphere

As I spoke, something shifted in the group. The frustration and complaining melted away. The mood changed from heaviness to worship and praise. And it wasn’t because of me.
It was because of the God I was testifying about.

A real God.
A loving Father.
A God who hears.
A God who rescues.

I shared how God had revealed Himself to me during my darkest moment, when I was burdened by hopelessness, doubt, and despair. And how He met me there—not with condemnation, but with love and mercy. He gave me peace, joy, and a reason to keep living.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son,
that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world,
but to save the world through Him.”
—John 3:16–17

That evening, after our group had worshipped the Lord with joy and renewed faith, the mechanic called. He had found the part.
The bus would be ready in the morning.

A Loving, Personal God

Coincidence? No Chance!

God used a broken-down bus to bring me to a place of obedience.
He used a chaperone’s simple words to call me out in love.
He used that moment to speak—not just to me—but to the entire group.

Because that’s who He is: personal, intimate, and deeply involved in the smallest details of our lives.

Now, all I want to do is share this truth with others:
God is real. He loves you. And He wants a relationship with you.

He proved His love through Jesus Christ, who gave His life for us while we were still sinners.
If you’re questioning, doubting, hurting—or just searching—please reach out to me or to someone who follows Jesus. We would be honored to talk with you, pray for you, and help you begin a relationship with the living God.

From Darkness to Light

I once lived in despair and darkness. Now I walk in light, peace, joy, and purpose.

And I want that same transformation for you.

The message I’ve been given is too good to keep to myself.

If I had the cure for cancer and kept it hidden, that would be a terrible wrong. But what I have is something far greater—the good news that God is real, that He loves you, and that through Jesus Christ, you can have intimate fellowship with Him both now and forever.

That’s my Jonah story.

Please reach out to me or another follower of Jesus if you want to know more!

PRAYER

Father, thank You for loving me enough to speak to my heart, even when I resist. Forgive me for the times I have delayed obedience, made excuses, or let fear keep me from sharing what You’ve done in my life. Thank You for pursuing me, for using circumstances—even a broken bus—to bring me back into step with Your will. Help me to be quick to say “yes” when You prompt me, and give me boldness to testify about Your goodness and mercy. Thank You for being real, personal, and deeply involved in my life. May my story always point others to Jesus, the One who saves, redeems, and restores. Use me to share the Good News freely and faithfully, so that others may move from darkness into Your light. Amen.