Cry Out To God

We all have rough times during our lifetime. We are imperfect people, living in an imperfect world. Things happen, some due to our own doing, others are brought on by the actions of other people. Either way, rough times will find a way into our lives. Running from God isn’t going to help the rough patches we experience. In times of depression we tend to shut down and lock people out, which only leads to sinking deeper into the dark pit of despair. Instead of running from, we should be running to. Running to God is the best option.

Jonah ran from God. God wanted Jonah to carry His message to the people of Nineveh, but Jonah, for selfish reasons, didn’t want to so he fled. Jonah got on a ship and was asleep below deck when God sent a violent storm that threatened the ship and everyone on it. The crew eventually threw Jonah overboard. What happens next serves as a lifeline for the marathon runner Jonah. “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). It’s easy for us to read this and think God is punishing Jonah. But what if God is saving Jonah by placing him in the belly of a huge fish?

If Jonah were to be left in the middle of the sea during a violent storm, death would surely come to him. God placed a lifeline for Jonah in the belly of the huge fish. Depression can feel like we are trapped in the belly of a huge fish. Don’t misunderstand what I’m saying. Depression isn’t our lifeline. Depression is the belly of a huge fish. Our lifeline is Jesus. The belly of the fish had two purposes. One was to get Jonah out of the violent storm, and just as important, it drew Jonah to God. While in the belly of the fish Jonah cried out to God and God answered by causing the fish to deposit Jonah onto a beach.

In our depression we tend to run from people, and at times this may be a good thing. Especially if they are not worthy people. The same people that offered to help Jonah are those who threw him overboard. The people we run to must be trusted individuals, and there is no one more trustworthy than God. In our depression we need to summon the strength to cry out to God. We need to stop running from Him and start running toward Him. Running to God is our lifeline. The belly of the fish, our depression, brings us to crying out to the one who can command the depression to deposit us on a beach. Running to God in the midst of our depression is what we need to do. It’s the hope that we are looking for.