Corona Devo 102

Have you ever felt trapped?  In such a heavy mood, predicament or situation that you could feel yourself sinking.  Slipping away from reality, your loved ones, your life.  The weight of your cares so burdensome that nothing else seems in focus.  It's a terrible and dangerous state to be in, but you don't notice because you can't get enough energy to care. 

Jonah was there.  He was running away from God's call on his life, and it took him to a bad place inside of himself--and inside of a whale: but believe it or not, his physical reality was much less intimidating than his emotional state.   

2 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, and he answered me.  I called to you from the land of the dead, and Lord, you heard me!  3 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.  4 Then I said, ‘O Lord, you have driven me from your presence.  Yet I will look once more toward your holy Temple.’  5 “I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me.  Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.  6 I sank down to the very roots of the mountains.  I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever.  ~Jonah 2:1-6

There have been times when I empathize with him.  Life can be ugly.  Circumstances can seem stifling and can choke the joy out of you, and if we are not careful, the will to live.  
Think about a time that you have felt close to hitting bottom.  Jonah's words sum it up pretty well: “I sank beneath the waves, and the waters closed over me.  Seaweed wrapped itself around my head.  6 I sank down to the very roots of the mountains.  I was imprisoned in the earth, whose gates lock shut forever.  ~Jonah 2:5-6

But the biggest choice we make with our lives each day is choosing to live them.  Persevering is in our nature as humans, as Americans, and definitely as Christians.  We have to keep trying each day.  And the Lord gives us that strength to persevere.  When we are low, we can call out to God and He hears us.  He is our rescuer.

But you, O Lord my God, snatched me from the jaws of death!  7 As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord.  And my earnest prayer went out to you in your holy Temple.  8 Those who worship false gods turn their backs on all God’s mercies.  9 But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows.  For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.”  10 Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.  ~Jonah 2:6-10

Jonah felt the Lord release him from his emotional prison.  From the jail of depression or rebellion, or whatever Jonah was battling.  Whatever we are battling--God lifts us up and out of it when we reach a hand toward Him.  Or a finger if that's all we can muster, or a prayer.  God meets us and snatches us from the jaws of death (Jonah 2:6) and into His arms.

And then Jonah had immediate clarity on what really matters in life.  Not all of the things/false idols that he thought were important.  No, with fresh, discerning eyes, he saw that in seeking everything else but God, he had "turned his back on all God's mercies".  Sometimes when I come out of being in a "bad place" emotionally, I see all that I have missed out on as well.  

Like Jonah, there is a feeling of being ashamed at our failings, but there is also a renewed vigor to live right (with God).  To praise God, and to appreciate all that we do have because of Him.   But I will offer sacrifices to you with songs of praise, and I will fulfill all my vows.  For my salvation comes from the Lord alone.” (Jonah 2:9).  You can feel Jonah's change of heart about life and about living life.  God provides that change in our hearts.

Verse number 10 doesn't have a whole lot to do with the overall point of today's devotional, but everyone likes a happy ending: Then the Lord ordered the fish to spit Jonah out onto the beach.  (Jonah 2:10).
It also helps to support my opinion that the Bible is awesome and exciting, and you can't make this stuff up!

For Jonah, when a whale vomited him up, it was the beginning of a whole new call on his life.  If you are in a place where you need rescuing, the Lord has a plan for saving you too.  The Lord purposely created you and created you for a purpose.  Remember the Lord today.  As my life was slipping away, I remembered the Lord. ~Jonah 2:7

Blessings,
sarah
https://sarahsundy04.blogspot.com/

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