Have you ever found yourself in a situation where it felt like trouble and hardship were closing in around you? It could have been an illness or a loss. Problems at home or at work. It could've been a relationship that was coming apart or some crisis in the news that was causing you stress. But whatever it was, you felt like you were running out of places to turn for help. And so, you prayed to the Lord in a way that might've sounded a little like today's word from Jonah Chapter 2:

 

"In my distress I called to the LORD," Jonah prayed,

     "and he answered me.

From deep in the realm of the dead I called for help,

     and you listened to my cry.

The engulfing waters threatened me,

     the deep surrounded me.

But you, LORD my God,

     brought my life up from the pit." (2:2, 5-6)

 

Of course, there are two ironies in that prayer. For starters, Jonah prayed this way while he was running away from the Lord! Which should give us confidence that even when we're less-than-obedient-servants, God still hears and cares and answers our prayers.

 

But in addition, even when God gave mercy to Jonah and rescued him from his troubles, Jonah was unwilling to give mercy to the Ninevites to whom God had sent him.

 

So today, let's be confident that we can call out to God for help, even when we don't deserve it. But then, let's be willing to extend help to others, even if we don't think they deserve it. Because we've got a Father in heaven who "causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous." (Mt. 5:45) And it's by sharing with others the grace we've received that we put His glory on display. Amen.