Fish, Part 9: What to Do When You’re Sinking

Brian Behrends, Creative Pastor

Jonah 1:17–2:10
¹⁷ Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights.

¹ From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. ² He said:

“In my distress I called to the Lord, 
       and he answered me.
From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,
       and you listened to my cry.
³ You hurled me into the depths,
       into the very heart of the seas,
       and the currents swirled about me;
all your waves and breakers 
       swept over me.
⁴ I said, ‘I have been banished from your sight;
       yet I will look again toward your holy temple.’
⁵ The engulfing waters threatened me,
       the deep surrounded me;
       seaweed was wrapped around my head.
⁶ To the roots of the mountains I sank down; 
       the earth beneath barred me in forever.
But you, Lord my God, 
       brought my life up from the pit.

⁷ “When my life was ebbing away, 
       I remembered you, Lord,
and my prayer rose to you, 
       to your holy temple.
⁸ “Those who cling to worthless idols
       turn away from God’s love for them.
⁹ But I, with shouts of grateful praise,
       will sacrifice to you.
What I have vowed I will make good. 
       I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’”

¹⁰ And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.

Question – Is this my ?

for God

Now the Lord provided a huge fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. –Jonah 1:17

to God

From inside the fish Jonah prayed. –Jonah 2:1

• • With passion
  • With precision
  • With persistence

God

“But I, with shouts of grateful praise, will sacrifice to you. What I have vowed I will make good. I will say, ‘Salvation comes from the Lord.’” –Jonah 2:9

TOWDAH | An extension of the hand. Thanksgiving. A confession. A sacrifice of praise. Thanksgiving for things not yet received.

And the Lord commanded the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land. –Jonah 2:10 

Small Group Questions

1. Have you ever gotten in trouble because of something someone else did? Or maybe someone else got in trouble for something you did? Tell us about it!
2. When’s the last time you prayed a truly desperate prayer? How was it different that your typical prayers?
3. What’s a prayer in your life that you keep coming back to?
4. What’s one way you can praise God in the middle of whatever storm you’re facing?
5. How can we pray for you right now and throughout the week?