Jonah 2:2
“In my distress, I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.”

Jonah found himself in a bad place; the belly of a great fish. As far as he knew his life was over. He had run from God, refusing to do what God had asked of him. We pick up the story where Jonah is crying out to the Lord; he says, “When my life was ebbing away I remembered you.” All too often we act the same way as Jonah. When life is going along fine and we have a false sense of peace, safety, and good things, we tend to take God for granted. We don’t give him much of a thought, because nothing has rocked our world just yet. However, when a bump in the road comes, a crisis hits us hard, or life gets too overwhelming, suddenly we want him, NOW!

When we have this kind of relationship with the Lord, it is an up-and-down kind of spiritual relationship. We have no consistency, we can become distant from God by not having daily communion with him in prayer and reading his word. It is only in a daily, consistent relationship that we can gain that solid spiritual ground we so desperately need to navigate this world, especially as it continues to decline in morality and idolatry, fornication, adultery, anger, offendedness, etc. It can begin to feel like we are in the belly of the great fish like Jonah, with our life feeling like it is ebbing away, almost like being buried alive.

When life rolls over us, and it will eventually, or the tide of good fortune changes and life gets hard, and at times can even feel desperate, we need that solid ground that we find in our Bibles and prayer. God’s word is active and living, it has the power to change our lives, and even though it will not stop the hurts and hards of life, it will anchor our souls, and give us hope; knowing God is faithful, He is on our side, He does hear our prayers, He is our Rock in the storms of life. Prayer keeps that constant communication going and keeps the relationship close so that there is no hesitation when we cry out for help. All too often when you feel distance in your relationship with God you try to hide, to run away from shame or some other emotion. Trust me, only you move, God is still right there, waiting patiently for you to turn to him, to trust him, to call out to him.

Just like Jonah, we can cry to the Lord and know that He not only hears us; he will answer. God can hear your voice no matter the clatter of the world around you, as the waves of adversity rise, our Savior’s ears are always attentive listening for his children’s voices, and his help is on the way. Jonah said: “When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord; And my prayer went up to You, Into your holy temple.” (Jonah 2:7)

I cannot say that I have never been a Jonah. I have waited until I thought it was over, whatever the hard of life seemed to be winning, but I can also say that I have found that the sweet communion in God’s word and daily prayer has made my faith stronger, the ground under me more firm, and my cries quick on my lips, because I know this to be true, God hears, and God answers.

I want to live in a place of Spiritual soundness. I want my eyes fixed on Jesus, so that the clatter of this dying world, the chaos of those who seem to have lost their minds, and the wickedness around me does not shake my faith.

Make the decision today to get in God’s word, make prayer a daily communion between you and the Lord, Be consistent in your walk with Jesus, surrendered to His Lordship knowing that he directs your paths, and he can keep you from the belly of the great fish of disobedience.

Blessings!