In the Book of Jonah, we meet a reluctant prophet running from God’s call. When a violent storm threatens the ship he boards, Jonah recognizes the storm is no accident. He tells the sailors, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea; then the sea will quiet down for you” (Jon 1:12). It’s a moment of surrender—but notably, Jonah couldn’t jump alone. He needed help to let go. This dramatic scene reveals a profound spiritual reality: sometimes we cannot surrender to God by ourselves. We need others to help us take the plunge.
And yet, the miracle—the calming of the storm and the appearance of the great fish—happens only after Jonah fully lets go. This story offers a powerful roadmap for anyone in the foundational stage of the spiritual life, where letting go, asking for help, and trusting in God’s plan are essential.
1. Recognizing Our Inability to Act Alone
Jonah admits his fault: “I know it is because of me that this great storm has come upon you” (Jon 1:12). But though he recognizes the truth, he still cannot act on his own. He doesn’t leap into the sea; instead, he asks the sailors to throw him in. This reflects a key moment in our spiritual growth—realizing we are stuck. Whether it’s sin, fear, or avoidance, we sometimes reach a point where we know what must be done, but we can’t do it alone.
Jesus reminds us, “Apart from me you can do nothing” (Jn 15:5). Spiritual progress begins with humility: admitting our weakness and acknowledging our need for both divine and human help.
2. Asking for Help from Others
Jonah doesn’t stay silent. He asks the sailors to help him take the necessary step. This moment of vulnerability is also a model for us. When we feel paralyzed in our journey—struggling with habitual sin, emotional wounds, or fear of obedience—we need to reach out. A priest, a spiritual guide, a friend, or a prayer group can be the “sailors” God places in our life.
The Catechism of the Catholic Church reminds us: “The Holy Spirit builds, animates, and sanctifies the Church. She is the sacrament of the Holy Trinity’s communion with men” (CCC 1108). In other words, the Church isn’t a solitary path. It’s a community where others help carry us to God.
3. Not Resisting the Help We Asked For
It’s one thing to ask for help; it’s another to cooperate with it. Jonah could have clung to the mast or resisted the sailors’ hands. But he didn’t. He allowed himself to be lifted and let go. This shows us what true surrender looks like—letting go of resistance, of control, of self-preservation.
St. Paul urges us: “Present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God” (Rom 12:1). This kind of offering means allowing God to act, even through others, even when it means sacrifice or discomfort.
4. Releasing Our Physical and Emotional Supports
Jonah didn’t grab the ship’s railing or try to save himself at the last moment. He released his grip completely—both literally and spiritually. We often cling to our own “ropes”: our comfort zones, fears, pride, or excuses. But as Jesus says, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me” (Mt 16:24).
In the foundational stage, surrender often begins with letting go of what seems “safe”—past wounds, control, emotional defenses—and allowing ourselves to be fully dependent on God’s grace.
5. Accepting the Consequences of Surrender
Jonah was not unaware of the danger. Being thrown into a raging sea could mean death. Yet he accepted this risk to obey God. In our own lives, surrendering to God often comes with consequences: making amends, admitting wrongdoing, ending a harmful habit. But these are not punishments—they are the doorways to healing.
As the Psalmist says, “A broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise” (Ps 51:17). Surrender is painful—but it leads to peace.
6. Not Turning Back When Things Calm Down
Once Jonah was in the sea, the storm stopped (Jon 1:15). The sailors might have pulled him back aboard, now that danger had passed. But Jonah didn’t ask to return. This is key. Sometimes we take one brave step toward God—and then retreat when life feels manageable again. We abandon the conversion we began.
The lesson: once you step into surrender, stay there. Don’t cling again to the boat. Trust God with the entire journey, even when the immediate storm is gone.
7. Receiving God’s Provision After Full Surrender
Only after Jonah let go—fully—did God’s provision appear: “The Lord provided a large fish to swallow Jonah” (Jon 1:17). God didn’t act while Jonah clung to the boat. He waited for total surrender.
This is often true in our own lives. We long for God to speak or act, but we still hold on to control. True spiritual provision often comes only after our full surrender. As St. Francis de Sales wrote, “God takes pleasure to see you take your little steps; and like a good father who holds his child by the hand, He will accommodate His steps to yours and will be content to go no faster than you.” (Letters of Spiritual Direction, 1615).
8. The Role of the Sailors: A Community That Helps Us Let Go
The sailors are a key part of Jonah’s story. They didn’t act rashly; they prayed, rowed harder, and only acted when they saw no other way (Jon 1:13–15). They represent the Church—the spiritual companions who don’t force us, but who walk with us, support us, and help us take the steps we cannot take alone.
As St. Paul reminds us: “Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ” (Gal 6:2). We are not meant to surrender alone.
9. Valuing Jesus Through Costly Surrender
There is a hidden but powerful truth in our spiritual journey: we value what costs us most. When we give up small things for God—habits or comforts that are easy to let go—we may feel a sense of obedience, but the depth of our love is not truly tested.
However, when surrender demands something truly difficult—when it breaks our heart, causes emotional pain, or leaves us grieving—that’s when our love is most real. To give up something that costs us deeply, and still say, “Jesus, I give this to You,” is one of the clearest signs that we value Him above all.
It is in those moments—when surrender truly hurts—that we declare, not with words, but through sacrifice: “Jesus, You are worth this.” These are golden opportunities to grow in love and prove our devotion—not by ease, but by the cost we’re willing to pay.
A Final Word: Take the Plunge
Dear friend, maybe you’re standing at the edge of your own “boat”—knowing what God is asking, but too afraid to jump. Jonah’s story teaches that when you cannot jump alone, ask for help. Let others lift you. Don’t resist. Let go. Trust the sea. And above all, believe that God already has a “fish” prepared to carry you forward.
This is the path of the foundational stage in the Vox Divini Voyage: not a perfect journey, but a courageous one. A journey of surrender, supported by the Church, and upheld by grace.
As St. Peter assures us, “The God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you” (1 Pet 5:10). Take the plunge. He is waiting.
Vox Divini 