While reading a Bible study about the book of Jonah, the author asked an interesting question. “What do you think it was like for Jonah to be in the belly of a fish for three days?” I’d never thought about that so gave it some consideration.

First the back story. God asked the prophet Jonah to go to the great city of Ninevah to announce judgement against the wicked people there. Instead, Jonah boarded a ship to run far away from his assignment.

God wasn’t taking “no” for an answer. He sent a violent storm that threatened to destroy the ship. When the crew found out that Jonah was the cause, they reluctantly threw him overboard into a raging sea. The storm immediately stopped.

Now as Jonah sank into the ocean depths toward certain death, the mighty waters engulfed him and seaweed wrapped around his head. As the end was near, Jonah remembered the Lord and cried out for rescue. God answered.

Suddenly Jonah found himself in a place of total blackness, his nostrils filled with a putrid smell of rotten decay. He probably had no idea he’d been swallowed by a great fish. Maybe he feared that saying no to God’s call had landed him in hell.

But Jonah decided to give it one more try and cried out to the Lord. Maybe He would relent and have mercy on him. Maybe he could have one more chance. We don’t know how long Jonah prayed and made vows to turn back to God, but we do know that he was inside the belly of the fish for three days and three nights.

But Jonah didn’t know that he would be free in three days. He didn’t know if God would answer his prayers for help, or if this deep blackness would be his eternal home. He’d probably lost all sense of time in this dark prison.

But we can be sure of the immense gratefulness that Jonah must have felt when he was suddenly vomited out of the belly of the fish and landed on a beach. I’m sure he must have rejoiced after removing the seaweed to see the light of day once again.

So how does this apply to our lives? Some may have turned from following the Lord or are running from His call on your life. You find yourself in a deep dark place, with no hope of finding a way of escape.

Some may be experiencing this same deep darkness and hopelessness through no fault of your own. Fiery trials have come upon you one after another, and you’re plunged into a depression like you’ve never known. The stormy waves have engulfed you and you are sinking further into the depths of despair.

Like Jonah, you have no way to know if you will ever be able to escape this black hole you find yourself in. You cry out day and night to God for help, but nothing ever seems to change. You feel forsaken and only hear the hollow echo of your voice in the darkness.

But I want to encourage you to take heart and continue to look to the Lord. For just as Jonah was suddenly delivered from his place of bondage, so, too, God is still in the miracle-working business. Who knows? Perhaps today could be the day you find yourself once again in the light of God’s mercy and goodness. Keep praying and believing, for He is faithful.