Even though I serve as a pastor to other pastors, I also have a coach because I truly believe that every coach needs a coach. In a conversation we had last month, he challenged me with something I have been ruminating on…
“What we run from pursues us. What we face transforms us.”
Jonah gets a lot of attention in books and sermons because he quite blatantly disrespected God’s request to go to Ninevah and ended up in the belly of a fish for three days. It is a spectacular story in every sense of the word – made for the movies. This story is so powerful that Jesus Himself referenced it as a symbol of His own coming sacrifice. But after the drama fades, the quieter details hold lessons for those who seek peace—in themselves and in the world.
After Jonah’s warning, the people of Nineveh—a city with no history of worshiping God—did something extraordinary. The Ninevites repent in sackcloth and ashes! It’s easy to gloss over that until I remember Jesus weeping over Israel in Matthew 23:37 as He says, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often would I have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” The nation of Israel was known for, at worst, killing God’s prophets and, at best, ignoring God’s mouthpiece. Here, we have a secular and pagan nation immediately repenting, and because of their change in heart, God relents from the destruction that had been prophesied by Jonah.
Nineveh had a change of heart; Jonah did not.
Jonah burned with anger at God’s love and grace for the Ninevites. These are people that I am sure Jonah felt “better than”. And they were people who most likely had a laundry list of sins far larger than Jonah’s; people who we don’t have any further biblical record of further “discipleship” or “change”.
“Isn’t this what I said, Lord, when I was still at home? That is what I tried to forestall by fleeing to Tarshish. I knew that you are a gracious and compassionate God, slow to anger and abounding in love, a God who relents from sending calamity. Now, Lord, take away my life, for it is better for me to die than to live.” (Jonah 4:2-3)
Nineveh does not become known as a God-honoring nation from this point in history, and quite honestly, Jonah does not become known as a God-honoring person or prophet from this point either. The end of his story is his continued anger at God’s mercy and grace for people he does not like.
Jonah obeys but never repents. God sought not just Jonah’s obedience, but also his heart—a heart willing that should be willing to love and make peace with those once seen as adversaries. He was so focused on others’ past offenses that he could not look at himself.
Jonah did what was asked, but he missed the deeper invitation to be transformed by compassion.
Let’s come back to the wisdom from my coach, “What we run from pursues us. What we face transforms us.” Jonah was pursued not only by God’s call but also by his own resistance to empathy and peace. He could have been transformed—perhaps even become a messenger of reconciliation to the nations, like the Apostle Paul. Instead, he refused to face what truly pursued him, and he missed the opportunity to be changed.
As peacemakers, we’re invited to confront the barriers within ourselves—the grudges, fears, and prejudices that keep us running from reconciliation. When we face these honestly, we open ourselves to transformation and become true ambassadors of peace, both in our communities and within our own hearts.
What is pursuing you?
Dean Kuest
This is not a typical bio I would use to introduce myself to strangers, but ministry is often where we present our best on the “front stage” and hide the dirt “backstage.” Like social media, it is easy to produce the stuff that makes us look great, but I long for relationships that are real…so here is my “honest” bio.
I am a husband of 33 years to my beautiful wife, Leslie. I am a pastor and a PK who raised five PKs (all boys). I am now Pops to five grandchildren (four girls in there – finally). I have a great relationship with my parents and my boys. I’m so proud of each of them.
I am an example of failure—I have put my work above my wife for many years. I have never had an affair, but the church has been my mistress at times. Leslie has been gracious, and we have worked through those wounds and scars. We are an example of perseverance, and I am so grateful for the love we nurture.
I was blessed to be rooted in one church in the Phoenix area for 25 years. I was blessed to be uprooted and lead a church plant in the Seattle area for eight years. I have climbed the ladder of leadership in an exceptionally large church. And I have been humbled by a complete loss of confidence at the end of my time in Seattle.
I sought help and learned several things about myself.
I tried to do everything myself and had poor stress management.
I have ADD and need strategies and medication to deal with it.
I had a hormone imbalance that contributed to my anxiety.
Thirteen years later, I continue to learn about those strategies and how to tap into the support I need.
I was one of the original nine pastors who met together in 2018 to dream the dream that has become the Matthew 5:9 Fellowship. I am passionate about the Gospel, the love and grace of Jesus, and I long to be a peacemaker in a polarized world. I have learned to be honest about what God has gifted me to do and where my abilities fall short.
I like to build and create. I don’t like to maintain. I have always had great people skills, but I am a poor administrator and event organizer. I lead with grace because I know I have needed it throughout my life and ministry. I am not always good at giving myself grace because I have a VERY LOUD inner critic who is very opinionated and always self-effacing. I am a gifted coach and mentor and connect well with younger generations of pastors.
I would love to come alongside you as a coach. As a reminder, the first session is free, and the Matthew 5:9 Fellowship will pay for two more.
Shoot me an email if that is something you would like to explore.
