To the roots of the mountains I sank down; the earth beneath barred me in forever. But you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. Jonah 2:6, NIV
“Morgan, are you going to Nineveh, or are you getting swallowed by the big fish?”
These words hit me like a lightning bolt. I was sitting in a professional development session, still reeling from a call I’d received days earlier. My principal had just dropped the bomb: I was being moved from 8th-grade English, a role I had loved and poured my heart into for ten years, to 6th-grade social studies.
I hated that 6th grade social studies content.
It felt like I was grieving a death—the death of a teaching team that was like family, the curriculum I had spent a decade perfecting, and a partnership with a mentor who had been my spiritual rock. Everything I had worked toward, everything I wanted in my career, was gone in a moment.
By the middle of the session, I couldn’t hold it together anymore. I slipped out, found an empty computer lab, and broke down in tears. The embarrassment of my self-pity made me hide away.
That’s when my best friend and colleague walked in. No hugs. No sympathy. Just a pointed question.
“Morgan, are you going to Nineveh, or are you going to keep whining in the belly of the fish?”
I thought, Excuse me? Did she seriously just say that?
I wanted her to sit with me in my misery, validate my frustration, and maybe even be angry with me at our principal.
But she didn’t.
Instead, she gave me the truth I needed. I’d lost sight of the bigger picture—that God works all things together for good (Romans 8:28). Her words stung, but they shook me awake.
I started the year begrudgingly and still wallowing in my own self-pity. I still felt sorry for myself. My attitude stunk. But God wasn’t done with me yet.
Not long into the year, He answered a prayer I had been praying for ten years. It started with two students giving their lives to Christ at a First Priority meeting. From there, the Lord moved in a way that only He could. Over 70 students came to faith, and the youth group I had served for years experienced a revival like nothing I’d ever seen.
Looking back, I see how God brought me up from the pit of self-pity and into the joy of His purpose. Like Jonah, I had sunk low. But just as He did for Jonah, God pulled me out and used me for His glory even though I didn’t deserve it.
God had sent me to Nineveh, and it turned out to be exactly where I needed to be.
Heavenly Father, thank You for working all things together for our good, even when we can’t see it. Forgive us when we wallow in self-pity. Help us trust Your plans, knowing Your sovereignty is perfect. Use us for Your Kingdom. Bring revival, Lord. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Copyright Morgan Preston.
Morgan is a former middle school language arts and social studies teacher. She is currently Christian Educators’ Marketing and Communications Coordinator and serves her middle school students and teachers through First Priority.
17 Responses
This is my little sister! I love hearing her testimony and how God worked through her Nineveh/Jonah moment.
God also worked this morning, still, using this story. The students in her story are now Freshmen and I teach science at the high school in Morgan’s former district. Today in FP meeting our speaker was late and we had to get started so the kids weren’t late for class. So I realized I was going to have to step up as one of our leaders finished her opening prayer. I had absolutely nothing prepared so I spoke a quick prayer for God to speak instead of me, and boy did He. I don’t even know why Morgan’s testimony came to my mind. I had already read the devotional when I woke up this morning but that was 2-3 hrs. prior to this moment and with raging ADHD it was not a thing I was thinking about anymore or remembered I’d read it. So, with nothing in my head planned, I began speaking. What began to come out was the transformation that had happened in that 6th grade hallway and the way God is still moving in different schools and districts around us because of Morgan’s faithfulness despite her wallowing.
I cried twice! I am not a crier. Morgan tends to be the more emotive sister of us; which isn’t hard to do, lol! God’s mercy, love, and grace amaze me and it just led me to tears! I am (and we) are so undeserving, but he gives all of these freely!
The other side of this story is that one of those two original girls has basically become a daughter to my husband and I. Without this moment, and God’s movement, I’m not sure where this special girl would be. I know He has a much bigger plan for her than any of us can even imagine! She reminds me of Elihu in the story of Job. Random Bible individual, I know, but we’re in the Book of Job and I read about him today. Turns out he was a pretty cool guy in this story.
I could go on and on, but I’ll leave with this thought: God’s blessings can look different in some moments and not even seem like blessings. However, I have seen in my life and many others that it’s usually those that are the biggest and most monumental in our lives. We just have to remain faithful in those “Nineveh” callings.
Aw! I love you, sister! And I’m so thankful for how God has written this story and used you to continue to bless our girl. Isn’t it amazing to see firsthand the way He has used her to transform so many lives?!
Yes! Amazing and very humbling.
Praise God!
Amen! All glory and honor go to He who is the author of my story!
Thank you so much for sharing! I had my own Nineveh moment as a teacher, too! It happened about 12 years ago… I teach in an urban school district in York, Pa., and I was transferred from one of the “easier” schools in the district to another school that had a terrible reputation – and when I got there, I realized that reputation was well-deserved!!! It was a zoo and the inmates were running the asylum!!!
So, I fought this move in my head for a few days until my wife did exactly what your co-worker did: She basically said to stop whining and feeling sorry for myself and accept the transition with the right attitude. Her words still ring clear in my head: “God is obviously putting you there for a reason!”
Now, I would never say it was easy, but over time His plan became crystal clear… After a rough first year, a new administrator came in… a believer who let us conduct corporate prayer in a public school – and even joined us! In the next few years, the culture of our school completely changed as teachers who were not part of the new vision gradually moved on or went to different schools, and the new teachers we brought in became part of our trnasformation.
We still pray weekly as a team and we are now the “Shining Star” school in our district! Now other teachers WANT to come here!!! It has been so obvious that He is at work here… So we give God the glory and we know… When God sends you to Nineveh, He has a purpose! 🙂
Michael, this has blessed me so much! I am so thankful that I am not the only one who has had this initial reaction to this kind of situation. Isn’t it amazing how God uses us anyway? How we get to be a part of His plan for our schools?
Our school has since gone through a very similar transformation! How great is our Redeemer?
Michael, this has blessed me so much! I am so thankful that I am not the only one who has had this initial reaction to this kind of situation. Isn’t it amazing how God uses us anyway? How we get to be a part of His plan for our schools?
Our school has since gone through a very similar transformation! How great is our Redeemer!
Great devotional. I could really relate to it.
Thanks for sharing!
That blesses me so much! My prayer in sharing this God story is that others who could relate would be encouraged. I pray you were!
this was so perfect for me. my school may be closing and I’ve been panicking. but God may be calling me to Ninevah so I will calm my heart and go.
Oh, Amanda. I would be panicking, too! I’d love to pray for you!
Heavenly Father,
Thank You so much for the calling You’ve placed on Amanda’s life. Thank You that she has been obedient to answer. As she steps into the unknown, I ask that You would cover her with your peace that passes all understanding. Remind her that You have a plan for her life…a plan for a future and a hope. In those moments when she feels worried, speak this into her life. Help her to cling to your promise. If You’re calling her to Nineveh, help her to see that You write incredible stories even through heartbreak.
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.
Wow, this was just what I needed to hear. Thank you Morgan for your openness. Now, excuse while I get out of the belly of this fish!!
I’m so glad it blessed you! Your comment sure did bless me!
Get outta that belly!
Great reminder….thank you! God often turns unmet expectations into unexpected purpose. He is always working in the shadows!
I love that! “Unmet expectations into unexpected purpose”! Wow! That’s a devotional in and of itself!
Beautiful story and good reminder to trust.🙌❤️