Jonah's Prayer

Have you ever felt desperate in your life that relying on yourself is not enough. You find yourself speaking to the one you try to avoid most in your life---God.
Jonah, did just that, runaway from Him. But when he became of dire need of help, still there was no one else to run to but God. Here's the prayer he prayed.
(At this point Jonah had been swallowed by a whale because he was thrown into the ocean by the crew he was travelling with believing that Jonah caused the storm they had met.)

"In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.
From the depths of the grave I called for your help and you listened to my cry.
You hurled me into the deep,
into the very heart of the seas,
and the currents swirled about me,
all your waves and breakers swept over me.
I said, "I have been banished from your sight;
yet I will look again toward your holy temple."
The engulfing waters threatened me, the deep surrounded me;
seaweed was wrapped around my head.
To the roots of the mountains I sank down;
the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you brought my life up from the pit,
O Lord my God.

"When my life was ebbing away , I remembered you, Lord, and my prayer rose to you
to your holy temple.
Those who cling to worthless idol forfeit the grace that could be theirs.
But I, with a song of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good.
Salvation comes from the Lord."

After the prayer, God helped Jonah come out of the whale's belly.

Does this prayer relate to you. I know I've felt this way many times in my life and have said prayers like this one. With sincerity and heart, God listens and provides.


With sincerity and good intentions...God listens...

and Provides...