No Presence, No Protection

 
“Draw near to God, and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” - James 4:8 
 
 
Billy Graham once said, “The will of God will not take us where the grace of God cannot sustain us.” Where God leads you, He will provide for you. He will take care of all your needs. He will equip you with the skills and abilities you will need, and He will protect you.  
 
None of this is guaranteed when you run from the presence of God. That is exactly what Jonah did. God called Jonah to go to the city of Nineveh, and instead, Jonah ran in the exact opposite direction. The consequence? He faced a storm at sea, was tossed overboard, and was swallowed by a whale. 
 
He ran from the presence of God, and as a result, He was not protected by God. Now, the Lord was gracious to Jonah. He gave Jonah a second chance, but Jonah would not have had to face any of these circumstances had he just obeyed the Lord in the first place.  
 
Are you running from God? Has the Lord called you to do something that scares you? Are you afraid that His grace will not be with you? If the Lord has called you, He will equip you. If the Lord has called you, He will protect you. Stay in His will, and you will not fail. He will lead you. 
 
But wander outside His will, or worse…run from Him, and you will lose the guidance and protection He provides inside of His will. It is your choice. You might be afraid, but I can tell you right now, you are a whole lot safer underqualified or unsure INSIDE the will of God than in your comfort zone OUTSIDE the will of God. Do you want His protection? Stay obedient to His calling.