Family Devotional: When We Run From God

Read Together: Jonah 1:1-3, 15-17

“The word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: ‘Go to the great city of Nineveh and preach against it, because its wickedness has come up before me.’ But Jonah ran away from the Lord and headed for Tarshish… Then they took Jonah and threw him overboard, and the raging sea grew calm… Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.”

Family Teaching

God asked Jonah to go to a city called Nineveh and tell them about God. But Jonah didn’t want to go because the people there were mean and had hurt his people. Instead of obeying God, Jonah got on a boat going the complete opposite direction! He thought he could run away from God.

But here’s the thing: you can’t run away from God. God is everywhere. When Jonah tried to run, God sent a big storm. The sailors on the boat were so scared they threw Jonah into the ocean. You might think that’s the end of the story, but it’s not! God sent a huge fish to swallow Jonah. That sounds scary, but actually the fish saved Jonah’s life. God was giving Jonah a second chance.

Sometimes God asks us to do hard things. Maybe it’s being kind to someone who wasn’t kind to you. Maybe it’s sharing your toys when you don’t want to. Maybe it’s telling the truth even when you’re scared. When God asks us to do something, we have two choices: we can obey, or we can run like Jonah. But God loves us so much that even when we run, He comes after us and gives us another chance.

Discussion Questions by Age Group

For Younger Children

Question 1: Can you hide from God?

  • Talk about how God sees us everywhere: in our room, at school, even in the dark
  • Discuss: Is this scary or comforting? (Help them see it’s comforting because God loves us!)

Question 2: What hard thing might God be asking you to do?

  • Examples: sharing with a sibling, saying sorry, being kind to someone at school
  • Talk about how God helps us do hard things

For Older Children

Question 1: Why do you think Jonah ran from God instead of just saying “no”?

  • Discuss how sometimes we avoid things we don’t want to do instead of being honest
  • Talk about the people of Nineveh and why Jonah didn’t want them to experience God’s forgiveness
  • Ask: Have you ever not wanted someone to be forgiven or get a second chance? Why?

Question 2: The fish seems like a punishment, but it was actually God saving Jonah. Can you think of a time when something hard was actually God helping you?

  • Examples: discipline from parents, losing a friend who was a bad influence, not making a team but finding something better
  • Discuss how God sometimes uses uncomfortable situations to protect us or redirect us
  • Talk about how we can trust God even when things are hard

For Teens

Question 1: Jonah knew Scripture (like Psalm 139) but still ran. Why do you think knowing God’s truth doesn’t always change our behavior?

  • Discuss the difference between head knowledge and heart transformation
  • Talk about how pride, fear, or comfort can keep us from obeying even when we know what’s right
  • Be honest: Where are you just going through the motions spiritually without really engaging?

Question 2: Jesus said to “love your enemies.” Who are the people or groups you find hardest to love, and why?

  • This could be political groups, people at school, someone who hurt you, or people with different beliefs
  • Discuss: How does remembering that we were once God’s enemies change our perspective?
  • Challenge: What does practical love look like for your “Nineveh”? (It doesn’t mean agreeing with everything, but it does mean seeing them as image-bearers of God)

Question 3: The sermon asked, “Are you spiritually drifting at sea?” What does spiritual slumber look like in your life?

  • Examples: avoiding life group, not being vulnerable, skipping quiet time, going through motions at church
  • Talk about the difference between rest and apathy
  • Discuss: What would it look like to “wake up” spiritually?

Closing Prayer

Parents, pray this over your family (or have older kids pray):

“God, thank you that we can’t run from You, not because You want to catch us and punish us, but because You love us and want what’s best for us. Help us to see that when You ask us to do hard things, it’s because You’re growing us and showing us Your heart.

Forgive us for the times we’ve run from You like Jonah. Thank you that You always give us second chances. Help us this week to obey You even when it’s uncomfortable. Give us courage to love people who are hard to love, to have conversations we’re avoiding, and to trust that Your way is always best.

We love You and want to follow You wherever You lead. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”