EquipHer Vol. 26: "How to Break the Cycle of Self-Sabotage"نموونە

Day 3 – Resistance

“No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” (Hebrews 12:11, NIV)

Resisting God’s correction is one of the most subtle forms of self-sabotage. We often do it with good intentions—trying to protect our hearts, maintain control, or avoid disappointment. However, beneath every act of resistance lies a deeper risk: missing the opportunity to be shaped for what God has prepared for us.

Divine correction is not punishment, it is preparation. God does not correct to condemn, but to refine. And when we resist His work, we are not just slowing down our growth—we are sabotaging it.

A clear example of this is Jonah. God gave him a direct mission: to go to Nineveh and proclaim His message of repentance (Jonah 1:1–2), but Jonah ran in the opposite direction. He deliberately resisted God’s will (Jonah 1:3).

Jonah’s conflict was internal. He knew God’s character—His mercy, compassion, and love (Jonah 4:2), and that was precisely what disturbed him. Deep down, Jonah feared that God’s grace might reach people he believed did not deserve it.

Jonah’s resistance led him into the belly of a great fish (Jonah 1:17). Not as a punishment, but as a natural consequence of his refusal. Likewise, when we walk away from the path God has set for us, we often end up in seasons of confusion, isolation, and stagnation. It is not God punishing us—it is our resistance and disobedience that hold us back.

Things begin to change only when Jonah surrenders. In his prayer, he says, “But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to You. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord’” (Jonah 2:9, NIV). Then God commands the fish to release him onto dry land (Jonah 2:10), and Jonah finally obeys, fulfilling the assignment God had given him.

Just like Jonah, we too can have areas in our lives where we resist God’s will. Sometimes, we know exactly what God is asking of us, but we delay, we avoid, we run - we hinder our own process of growth and maturity.

Correction can be uncomfortable, but it produces not only change, but peace, righteousness, and most importantly, it realigns us with the heart of God.

Practical Exercise:
Identify one or more areas of your life where you may be resisting God’s correction. It could be habits, emotional reactions, relationships, or behavioral patterns. For each area, ask yourself:

• What kind of correction am I avoiding?
• How might this area of my life be transformed if I surrendered to God’s will?

Prayer:
Lord, today I recognize that resisting Your correction is a form of self-sabotage. I want to be transformed, shaped, and prepared for the purpose You have set before me. Show me where I am resisting You, and give me the courage to trust Your process. Amen.