August 7, 2022 - Jonah 2:1-6

“Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish. He said, “I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble, and he answered me. I called to you from the land of the dead, and LORD, you heard me! You threw me into the ocean depths, and I sank down to the heart of the sea. The mighty waters engulfed me; I was buried beneath your wild and stormy waves. Then I said, ‘O LORD, you have driven me from your presence. Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’ “I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me...But you, O LORD my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!”” Jonah 2:1-6 NLT

Lord, as I ponder the story of Jonah, I am so blown away by your mercy. Jonah disobeyed what you asked of him and ran away from your calling. You sent judgement in a storm to get his attention, yet he still didn’t repent. Not until he was thrown overboard and facing death, did he call out to you in repentance. And what a rescue you performed. You sent a fish to carry him to shore. The likelihood of that happening doesn’t even seem real. It sounds like a made-up child’s story. Yet, it was how you chose to save him. You can do anything even in the most unlikely of ways. Lord, this story gives me such hope. Even when we royally mess up, you can still get us where you want us. Even when we find ourselves in the most hopeless of situations and see no possible way out, you have a solution. Jonah was drowning in the middle of the raging sea, and you saved him. You can do anything.

Lord, it also gives us hope that if we are seeking you and trying to follow your instructions, you will certainly get us where you want us. We don’t have to fear making a wrong decision. If you got Jonah where you wanted him, even in his blatant disobedience, you will get us there when we are trying to walk in obedience. We praise you for having us in your hands.

In Jesus name, amen.