Sbased on the LGG Study, Our God Who Pursues/w2d3
Read: Jonah 1:17-2:10 (SOAP: 1:17-2:2)
Now the Lord had arranged for a great fish to swallow Jonah. And Jonah was inside the fish for three days and three nights. Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from inside the fish. 2 He said,
“I cried out to the Lord in my great trouble,
Jonah 1:17-2:2
and he answered me.
I called to you from the land of the dead,
and Lord, you heard me!
These beautiful words, highlighting today’s portion of our study, are from today’s LGG journal entry.
Into The Text
Jonah was at the lowest point of his life, both literally and figuratively. It would have been easy for him to blame God and grow bitter. Instead, Jonah recognized that it was his own actions that led him to this place in the belly of a great fish. Notice what Jonah does. He cries out in prayer.
Jonah pours out his heart before the Lord. His prayer is raw and honest. And what does God do? He hears and answers.
In our darkest valleys, God hears our prayers. He cares for us and responds, though it may not be immediate or in the way we expect. But He always hears.
For some, you may find yourself in a pit due to your own actions. If so, call out to Jesus. He wants to have a relationship with you. There is no sin that is too great for the cross and grace of Christ. All you have to do is pray in faith, asking for forgiveness.
God is in the business of redeeming that which was lost or that which is stuck in the pit. Your lowest moments or seasons of life will not be wasted. There is hope found in Jesus.
For others, you may find yourself in a pit due to hard life circumstances or the actions of others. Know that you are not alone. You have not been forgotten. These seasons feel long and weary, but it is not the end of your story. David writes in Psalm 23 that “even when I must walk through the darkest valley, I fear no danger, for you are with me” (23:4). Cry out to God in your hurt and pain. It will not catch Him off guard. Depend on Him to give you strength for each day.
Jonah’s prayer realigned his heart back to God so that he would be ready to faithfully follow God’s call to go to Nineveh. May your prayers today bring you peace and trust in the only place where true life is found, in Christ. As Jonah’s story wasn’t over, yours is not either.
My Prayer of Response
Father, thank You for the testimonies you bring from hardships and tragedies. Thank You for letting us see how You can work things together for good even through or despite our bad choices and situations. Thank You that this isn’t just a story but that it is truth played out on the pages of Your Word, in the lives of Your people bearing witness to who You are and the miraculous things You can do! May we be quick to share the testimonies of Your people and of the work You have and are doing in our own lives. In the mighty name of Jesus – Amen!
The More We Know
For more insight into today’s passage, read today’s LGG Blog Post
Me From the Inside Out 