Return
Opening Prayer
Sometimes, Lord, I run from you. I praise You that, even then, You run with me.
Read Jonah 2:1–10
For additional translations of the passage, use this link to Bible Gateway.
[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. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
When was a time you tried to run from God?There are times when most of us wish we could hide from God. Maybe we’ve done something we wish we hadn’t, or maybe we are tired of doing all that he seems to ask. We seek anonymity.We want to fade into the background—to rest, to get away. We can never win at hide-and- seekwith God. It’s not just that he’s good at finding us. Rather, there’s nowhere we can go that heisn’t there already.Jonah finds himself in the belly of a big fish. Instead of lamenting the fact of his predicament,and knowing that he should have died, he turns to praise. If God is involved in such a big way asto send a fish to swallow him up in a stormy sea, then God is not going to let him go. Jonahdoesn’t repent of his earlier disobedience, but he finds himself turning back towards God withprayers of praise. Even as he feels his life slipping away, he knows that God is with him.Sometimes we are tempted to think that we have wasted too much time, made too manymistakes. Jonah shows us that it’s never too late with God. As long as we have life and breath,we are able to turn to him in prayer and praise.There are times when most of us wish we could hide from God. Maybe we’ve done something we wish we hadn’t, or maybe we are tired of doing all that he seems to ask. We seek anonymity. We want to fade into the background—to rest, to get away. We can never win at hide-and- seek with God. It’s not just that he’s good at finding us. Rather, there’s nowhere we can go that he
isn’t there already.
Jonah finds himself in the belly of a big fish. Instead of lamenting the fact of his predicament, and knowing that he should have died, he turns to praise. If God is involved in such a big way as to send a fish to swallow him up in a stormy sea, then God is not going to let him go. Jonah doesn’t repent of his earlier disobedience, but he finds himself turning back towards God with
prayers of praise. Even as he feels his life slipping away, he knows that God is with him.
Sometimes we are tempted to think that we have wasted too much time, made too many mistakes. Jonah shows us that it’s never too late with God. As long as we have life and breath, we are able to turn to him in prayer and praise.
Apply
Take a moment to praise God for never leaving you, no matter how far you’ve strayed from his side.
Closing prayer
O Lord, “Where can I go from your Spirit?… If I go up to the heavens, you are there” (Psa. 139:7– 10).
Click here to sign up to receive the EXTRAs via email each quarter.
© 2025 Scripture Union U.S.A. All rights reserved. Reproduction of the whole or any part of the contents without written permission is prohibited.
Discovery is published in the USA under license from Scripture Union England and Wales, Trinity House, Opal Court, Opal Drive, Fox Milne, Milton Keynes, MK15 0DF.