The Reluctant Yes: Surrendering More Than Just Our Actions

We all remember that sinking feeling as kids when our parents called us from downstairs. One minute, we were happily lost in our own little worlds—playing with toys, watching TV, or deep into a video game—and the next, we were being summoned to do chores. With a dramatic sigh and maybe a little eye roll, we’d dragged ourselves down the stairs. Sure, we obeyed, but inside, we were frustrated, irritated, and far from willing.

That same attitude can quietly follow us into adulthood. Even as grown-ups, we can find ourselves doing what God asks on the outside, while wrestling with resistance on the inside. We might say “yes” with our actions, but our hearts are far from surrendered. That’s exactly what we see in the story of Jonah.

If you’re not familiar, Jonah was a prophet called by God to deliver a message to Nineveh—a city known for its violence, cruelty, and deep sin. It wasn’t just any city; it was the capital of the Assyrian empire, a brutal power that had harmed Jonah’s own people. To Jonah, they weren’t just strangers—they were enemies. People who didn’t deserve mercy. So Jonah ran. Instead of obeying, he hopped on a ship headed in the opposite direction. But God, in His mercy, pursued him—even through a violent storm and the belly of a great fish. After three days inside, Jonah cried out in desperation, and God gave him a second chance. This time, Jonah obeyed. He went to Nineveh and preached just as God told him to. The people repented, and God, in His grace, spared the city.

But Jonah didn’t celebrate.

He sulked. He was angry that God would forgive people he couldn’t stand. Instead of rejoicing over their redemption, he pouted because they didn’t “get what they deserved.” Jonah had followed through with what God asked, but his heart was still hard. His actions changed, but his perspective hadn’t.

If the book ended in chapter 3, it would look like a success story. A city repents, and God shows mercy. But chapter 4 opens and ends with Jonah furious. Why? Because he obeyed without surrendering. He did the right thing, but with the wrong heart.

And if we’re honest, we’ve been there too. We’ve said yes to a ministry out of guilt rather than joy. We’ve forgiven with our words while holding onto bitterness deep down. We’ve followed God's direction while silently wishing He had asked someone else. We’ve shown up physically but withheld our hearts. Like Jonah, our obedience wasn't rooted in love; it was driven by reluctant compliance.

There was a season when I was serving at a church where I often felt out of place. I showed up to lead worship week after week, but underneath the surface, I was carrying quiet hurt. I didn’t always feel wanted or welcome, and over time, that started to weigh on me. I began to dread walking through those doors—not because I didn’t love God, but because I was reluctant to keep showing up in a place where I didn’t feel seen. And yet, I kept showing up. I sang the songs and led the team, but my heart wasn’t fully in it. I was obeying, but not with joy or trust. I was doing what God asked of me, but mostly out of duty. Jonah’s struggle is one I know well. We do what God asks, but our hearts aren’t fully surrendered, quietly wrestling with pain and wondering if our obedience even matters.

Sometimes resistance isn’t loud or obvious. It’s quiet. Subtle. It sounds like cynicism, entitlement, or that little voice that says, “Why them, Lord?” And when God blesses someone we secretly hoped would be humbled, it reveals a part of us that still doesn’t fully trust His heart. But here’s the grace: even when we resist, God doesn’t walk away.

One of the most beautiful parts of Jonah’s story is how patient God is with him—not just in his rebellion, but in his bitterness. When Jonah runs, God sends the storm. When Jonah sinks, God sends the fish. When Jonah preaches, God moves powerfully. And when Jonah sulks, God sits with him.

Even the part with the vine and the worm is filled with meaning. Jonah sits outside the city, still angry. God grows a plant to give him shade and comfort in the midst of his sulking. But the next day, God sends a worm to eat the plant, and Jonah is angry all over again. God gently asks, “You care so much about this plant that lived for one day. But should I not care for this whole city, full of people who don’t know their right hand from their left?” Jonah had compassion for a vine that gave him comfort, but not for people made in the image of God. It’s a powerful reminder that God’s love doesn’t hinge on our attitudes. It flows freely, even when we don’t fully understand it.

And maybe the most beautiful contrast in the whole story is between Jonah and Jesus.

Both were sent with a mission to deliver a message of mercy. Jonah ran. Jesus stepped forward with surrender and love. Jonah pouted. Jesus poured Himself out. Jonah resisted. Jesus obeyed, even to the cross. Jesus did the very thing we couldn't.

And the truth is, we’re more like Jonah than we’d like to admit. Resistant. Reluctant. Wrapped up in our own emotions. But God doesn’t give up on people like Jonah, and He doesn’t give up on people like us. His mercy is bigger than our bitterness. Bigger than our excuses. Bigger than our most reluctant “yes.” It meets us in our mess, calls us gently to transformation, and shows us a better way.

So maybe today, the real question isn’t just, “Am I doing what God asked me to do?” Maybe the deeper question is, “Is my heart surrendered while I do it?” Where might there still be a little Jonah in me? Are there people I’ve quietly written off? Are there assignments I’m walking out with gritted teeth instead of open hands? Jonah’s story reminds us that God isn’t just after our obedience; He’s after our surrender and willingness. He’s shaping our hearts to look more like His: full of compassion, mercy, and grace—even for the people we’d rather avoid. Because in the end, the world doesn’t just need Christians who obey. It needs to see the mercy of God alive in us.

May your roots run deep and your faith remain strong! As always, Stay Rooted, my friends! <3