In Jonah 2 we see that Jonah caught in his circumstances. While he is in this circumstances, he realises that his only hope is to call upon the Lord.
Jonah 2:6 “I went down to the very roots of the mountains, into the land whose gates lock shut forever. But you, O LORD my God, brought me back from the depths alive. 7 While I was fainting away, I remembered the LORD, and my prayer came to You’’
We see Jonah right at the point of death here. ‘While I was fainting away, I remembered the Lord’.
Like Jonah, we can faint at any stage of life and under any trial or struggle unfortunately. So, the key word here is ‘remembered’. Remember the Lord. Remember who He is and what He has done for you. At this point of reflection, Jonah realises that his running from God had resulted in emptiness.
At this point of utter helplessness, Jonah sees the error of his ways and the emptiness and trying to run from the Lord. He knows now that he is completely in the hands of the Lord.
Jonah 2:9 “But I will sing praises to you; I will offer you a sacrifice and do what I have promised. Salvation comes from the LORD!”
There is nothing Jonah can do but surrender his will and give praise to his God. Brought to the point of utter hopelessness, Jonah utters the most important verse and the most important point of all – ‘Salvation is of the Lord’.
When God puts you in circumstances where you feel trapped and alone, cry out to Him in believing prayer.
Psalm 142:1-7 (NIV) “I cry aloud to the Lord; I lift up my voice to the Lord for mercy. 2 I pour out before him my complaint; before him I tell my trouble. 3 When my spirit grows faint within me, it is you who watch over my way. In the path where I walk people have hidden a snare for me. 4 Look and see, there is no one at my right hand; no one is concerned for me. I have no refuge; no one cares for my life. 5 I cry to you, Lord; I say, “You are my refuge, my portion in the land of the living.” 6 Listen to my cry, for I am in desperate need; rescue me from those who pursue me, for they are too strong for me. 7 Set me free from my prison, that I may praise your name. Then the righteous will gather about me because of your goodness to me.
There is no cave so deep, so dark, but we may out of it send up our prayers, and our souls in prayer, to God.” So no matter how trapped or alone you may feel, you can still cry out to God in prayer. – Matthew Henry
I conclude with Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and my salvation” This psalm reminds us that, to focus on God. When we put God at the centre of our life, we become stronger. Remember, our salvation is of the Lord.