Jonah and the Whale

Well, I read Jonah this morning. Not really sure how I got led to Jonah, but I guess that's what I needed to read. As I'm reading it, I'm thinking "What in the world could I have in common with a dude who got swallowed by a huge fish!". Okay...okay, I get it. Here is his prayer as he's inside the fish: (NIV 2:2-9)

"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. 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 idols 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."

Only when I was swallowed up by life and felt the desperation of death (death of my spirit, not of the flesh), did I turn to the LORD and ask for HIS help. I am getting much better at asking and receiving His help before I get to that breaking point. Sometimes I wait too long and it again becomes painful. The great thing is, is that I now know where the answers are and fall to my knees quicker, before I get completely swallowed up.