PEN & PRAISE

October 11, 2025

When You’d Rather Die Than Do the Will of the Lord !

PEN & PRAISE BY SISTER SARAH CADDELL

This morning, as I lay in a hotel room in Pigeon Forge, TN, the Lord spoke to my heart. I was sound asleep, yet somehow awake enough to hear Him. If you’ve ever experienced the Lord speaking to you, you know what that’s like—like drifting in and out of sleep while His words roll through your mind. Over and over, the phrase “When you’d rather die than do the will of the Lord” echoed in my thoughts, along with the story of Jonah.

I’m not sure if this message is only for me or if someone else needs to hear it too. But as I prayed, I felt the Lord nudge me, not to whisper it to my sleeping husband next to me (he’s a preacher, after all), but to start writing it down immediately. So here I am, sharing my heart.

Has God ever placed something on your heart, and instead of obeying, you ran the other way?

Jonah did. He was a prophet: someone with extraordinary spiritual insight, whom God instructed to go to Nineveh, a wicked city, to call its people to repentance. But instead of obeying, Jonah ran in the opposite direction. Scripture says he tried to “escape the presence of the Lord.” That’s puzzling to me. Jonah, of all people, should have known better. You can’t run from God. And yet… haven’t we all tried, at least once? Be honest, have you?

Jonah fled toward Tarshish, the most distant port known to Israel at the time. In other words, he tried to get as far from God’s assignment as possible. Have you ever wanted to do the same, create distance between you and God? Did it work? It didn’t for Jonah.

While on his way to Tarshish, a great storm arose. Jonah was thrown overboard and found himself in the belly of a great fish. He would have rather died than obey God’s call.

Friend, whatever God is asking you to do today, know this: He has already equipped and anointed you for it. Don’t worry about the details. Don’t fear the unknown. God has already made a way. Trust Him to provide everything you need.

Wherever He’s sending you, or whatever He’s telling you to do, it’s vital that you obey. Your obedience can impact lives, even souls. This is serious. I feel a strong warning in my spirit: Do not leave this world without doing the will of the Lord. Purpose in your heart that nothing, no opinions, no ridicule, no mockery from the enemy, will stop you from obeying God.

You can’t outrun Him. Even in the most distant, remote places of your life, His voice will still call out to you. Save yourself the turmoil of the storm, the belly of the fish, and the stink of disobedience. Instead, joyfully do what God has instructed.

Your life, and perhaps many others, will be better for it.

-August 11, 2025-

Under His Feet By Sarah Caddell

Under His Feet

Psalms 93:4
"The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea."

The word mightier means powerful, vast, and immense, beyond measure. Noise speaks of disturbance, distraction, chatter, and lies that seek to drown out the truth. Waves are sudden surges, powerful forces that can overwhelm and sweep us away.

The ocean has always been one of my favorite places. There’s something sacred about sitting in a beach chair, looking out at the endless horizon, and remembering that God Himself crafted this masterpiece. I often find myself lost in worship there, with music in my ears and His presence in my heart. The sound of the waves becomes a hymn, and my spirit feels refreshed.

But I’m also aware of the ocean’s power. It can go from calm to dangerous in a heartbeat. Standing before it, I’m reminded of how small I am compared to its strength, and how much greater the Lord’s power must be if He is mightier still.

When I read this verse today, the Lord brought back a memory. Years ago, some of my family went deep-sea fishing while on vacation. They were not experienced, and the trip quickly turned unpleasant. One of them battled severe seasickness, rocked by the waves, disoriented, and drained. It was a miserable experience.

God used that picture to speak to me. The “noise of many waters” isn’t just the roar of the sea but it’s the roar of life. It’s the lies and accusations of the enemy that crash against our minds like relentless waves: You’re not good enough. God can’t use you. You’ll always be alone. You’ll never be healed. You will never have children of your own. Your family will never be saved. Your flock has lost faith in you. This is the noise - disturbance, racket, empty chatter -that tries to shake our faith. But here’s the truth: noise is not reality, and it’s not God’s voice.

Friend, if you feel like you’re sinking beneath the waves of fear, doubt, or discouragement, hear this, “God is MIGHTIER than the noise of many waters.” His voice is stronger than the lies of the enemy. His hand is steady when the waves are high. His peace runs deeper than the turmoil around you.

Let Him be your anchor. Let His truth drown out the noise. And the next time you feel the waves pulling you under, remember this: “When waves are over your head, they’re under His feet.”

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