The Sunday Sermonette – Prayers in the Belly.

Last week, I was rereading the story of poor old Jonah. Remember him? He was commanded by Father God to go and preach repentance to the wicked city of Nineveh. In the Old Testament narrative, though, we are told that at first, he didn’t follow God’s commands.

Running from God, Jonah boarded a boat but was thrown overboard by the sailors when he admitted that he was the cause of the storm that raged around them. Then, suddenly, as he thrashed about in the swirling waters, a big fish swallowed him whole. While he was inside the fish, he began thinking about the poor choices he had made. He began to pray. Honestly, I would have prayed too if I were in that situation!

Prayer is powerful, very powerful. Jonah, longing for peace and deliverance, prayed from inside the fish, believing that God would hear and deliver him. He prayed to God at the lowest time of his life. His prayers kindled within him a confidence that God would be merciful and save him. His spirit may have wavered in the storm, but Jonah knew his prayers in the belly of the fish would reach God in heaven above.

Isn’t it comforting to know that Father God and Precious Jesus are with us during life’s storms, even when we are struggling in the “belly of a fish.” Many of us, myself included, have faced real storms—self-inflicted heartaches, tragic loss, deep depression, and daily hardships. Prayer makes a difference. It has for me. What about you?

Additionally, in this crazy world, sharing and carrying each other’s burdens are two of the most blessed and beautiful attributes of Christian fellowship. As tears for each other flow during our prayers, the Holy Spirit goes before us, voicing our deepest thoughts when we cannot. During our prayers, our hearts are united in one purpose as we pray to Father God for comfort, just as Jonah did. Such is the power of prayer.

Sometimes, when our prayers are not answered as quickly as we’d like, or perhaps not at all, it’s easy to want to “curse God and die.” Yet, as we move through those dark days, and we feel we are walking alone on the seashore of this wicked, scary place we call home, please remember—when we see only one set of footprints in the sand, those footprints are those of Jesus, who, because of His love for us, carried us along the treacherous shore of life when we were too weak or depressed to do so.

When we find ourselves lost in the blackness of depression, slogging through severe trials, or negotiating life’s deepest valleys, both God and Jesus are there with us. They will never leave those or forsake those who are theirs. The Good Book tells us that we are the apple of God’s eye. If this is so, which it is, how can He ever abandon us or give up on us?

Ponder this and go forth.