Growing up in the south comes with certain expectations. There are some things that you just do. We say, “Yes ma’am,” and “No ma’am.” We drink sweet tea. And we consider mac and cheese a vegetable. Another of those things for me is eating collards. I don’t recall a time in my life when I didn’t love collards. My wife, on the other hand, is originally from New Jersey and they do not share the same appreciation for these fantastic leafy greens. 

This never really caused us a problem because I only ever ate them at restaurants. In those situations, I could have my collards and she could stick to the things she liked. Everyone wins. Unfortunately, this system would eventually fail us. One year, my wife asked me what I wanted to do for Father’s Day. That year, I decided I actually wanted to cook. I just wasn’t in favor of fighting the crowds and eating a steak that wasn’t as good as what I could cook myself. (Shout out to my cooking skills.) The problem was, I wanted collards. Her response was, and I quote, “Gross.” 

That’s when I heard it. She said gross in the way my youngest says it when I put something new in front of her. Translation: I’ve never eaten this before and I don’t want to try it. I asked her if she had ever actually tried them. Sheepishly she said, “No.” I eventually convinced her to try them and she “didn’t hate them.” I took that as a win. We may not get to make collards all the time, but at least they would be the occasional option.

A week or two later, we went to a restaurant. You’ll never guess what she did. She ordered the collards! I couldn’t believe it. Now, she regularly requests them both at home and when we’re out. Her actual problem was that she assumed they would taste like cooked spinach. And she definitely doesn’t like that.

Have you ever allowed assumptions to hold you back? Digging into this story made me think about the story of Jonah and how his assumptions made him completely miss what God was up to. When God called Jonah to go to Nineveh and preach repentance, he assumed they were a lost cause, a hopeless people who were incapable of change. Jonah refused to go to on this assignment and instead booked passage on a ship headed in the opposite direction. God would not be denied. He caused a great fish to swallow Jonah, treat him to the world’s slimiest submarine tour, and vomit him up right outside of Nineveh. Jonah, under much duress, finally went and preached in Nineveh. It was probably the weakest sermon we see in all of scripture. Jonah totally phones it in. But God still used it. The people of Nineveh repent, and Jonah leaves sad because he won’t get to see the firework show of God’s wrath.

---

Not subscribed yet? Use the box
below to get This Awesome Life
delivered to your inbox.

---

Jonah’s assumptions about this entire people group caused him to completely miss a major move of God. In what should have been a joyous celebration, Jonah sat alone under a bush in full-on tantrum mode. Not a good look. Assumptions can very quickly cut off relationships and get in the way of our ability to follow god’s call on our life. Don’t let assumptions hold you back. Believe the best in others and give them a real chance. Be willing to have tough conversations that seek to strengthen, build, and restore relationships. And trust God when he asks you to take big steps.

I joke with my wife that she wasted 30 years of prime collard eating because she wrongly assumed she wouldn’t like them. While it’s funny, thankfully they’re just collard greens. Jonah, on the other hand, missed out on one of the biggest revivals of all time and the relationships and community he could have built as a result. Don’t let assumptions rob you of the things that actually matter. Step into the unknown and see what God can do. 

Our stories are what shape us and reveal our purpose. Even random moments about collard greens can have an impact! I wrote a book called “Magic in the Mug” about this very subject. It’s filled with such stories and is all about they can help us discover a life of purpose. I’d love your help getting this book out into the world! Click Here to find out more and help make this dream a reality!