This chapter consists of a prayer Jonah uttered while in the belly of the fish.
” ‘I called out to the Lord, out of my distress, and he answered me; out of the belly of Sheol I cried, and you heard my voice. For you cast me into the deep, into the heart of the seas, and the flood surrounded me; all your waves and your billows passed over me. When my life was fainting away, I remembered the Lord, and my prayer came to you… Those who pay regard to vain idols forsake their hope of steadfast love. But I with the voice of thanksgiving will sacrifice to you; what I have vowed I will pay. Salvation belongs to the Lord!’ ” (v2-3,7-9 abr)
Despite Jonah meaning this prayer literally, I think some (or all) of us know what it feels like to be completely overwhelmed by life’s circumstances. Perhaps we feel like we’re drowning in anxiety, worry, debt, unhealthy relationships, or some other circumstance that is beyond our ability to mend. We may even feel abandoned by God, or lost from His sight in the depths of our situation.
Yet there is great hope – Jonah was able to pray a prayer of thanksgiving and praise to God, despite nearly drowning, and finding himself inside a smelly, disgusting fish stomach (I gag just thinking about it). If Jonah was able to swallow his pride and praise God in the midst of these nauseating circumstances, then we too can stomach life’s upsets long enough to glorify God for the blessings we have already received.
I suggest we take some time to digest Jonah’s prayer, and dive into a mindset of thanksgiving. As we sink deeper into relationship with God, we will shift from a feeling of drowning, to a recognition of being baptized in His love (baptized literally means ‘immersed’ or ‘overwhelmed by water’). The more we realize that God is in control, the less we may feel like life is a swirling vortex of entropy attempting to drag us under.
Father God, our Glorious and Loving Lord, You are overflowing with Mercy and Grace. Our cups run over with blessings for which we can be thankful, so we invite Your help with our attitudes. May we have mindsets of thankfulness, and be filled with Joy, so your praise flows from our lips. May we be washed by Your forgiveness, and exude streams of living water which wash over the hearts of our neighbors. May we love, honor, obey and praise You with every word, thought, and action, from this day forward, amen.
~ Conqueror in Training
P.S. – I’m not even sorry for all the puns, they just flowed fluidly today.