The BIG Time Out
“…He prayed: In trouble, deep trouble, I prayed to God. He answered me. From the belly of the grave I cried ‘Help!’ You heard my cry. You threw me into ocean’s depths, into a watery grave, with oceans waves, ocean breakers crashing over me. I said ‘I’ve been thrown away, thrown out, out of your sight. I’ll never again lay eyes on your Holy Temple.’ Ocean gripped me by the throat. The ancient Abyss grabbed me and held me tight. My head was all tangled in seaweed at the bottom of the sea where the mountains take root. I was as far down as a body can go, and the gates were slamming shut behind me forever-yet you pulled me up from that grave alive, O God, my God! When my life was slipping away, I remembered God, and my prayer got through to you, made it all the way to your Holy Temple. Those who worship hollow gods, god-frauds, walk away from their only true love. But I’m worshipping you, God, calling out in thanksgiving! And I’ll do what I promised I’d do! Salvation belongs to God! Then God spoke to the fish, and it vomited up Jonah on the seashore.” Jonah 1:17-2:10 (MSG)
Every Summer I cannot help but think of Jonah. Sitting on the beach, looking out over the water and always at Vacation Bible School. There is something about Jonah that just makes a good summer time story. Lately, I have been thinking more of Jonah as I have looked over my shoulder making certain there was not a large fish on my tail. You know the story- God asks Jonah to do something-He doesn’t want to, so he decides to go hide from God. Great plan. Until, he and his traveling companions come upon a huge storm and he is tossed overboard and swallowed by a fish. He chills inside of the fish for three days and at some point comes to his senses and prays arguably one of the most beautiful prayers in the Bible. Beautiful or not- it is certainly heartfelt with just the right amount of desperation. It would be easy to condemn Jonah and talk about how much he really needed a time out and good for God for giving him one. But the truth is my friends, we all could use a little time cooling our heels in the belly of a fish. In fact, metaphorically I think we have all in fact spent some time right there in that fish just like Jonah.
Every single day we are called just like Jonah. Called to raise children, learn a trade, teach, serve, pray for others and countless other things. Just like Jonah, sometimes we run- and we get about as far as he did. We get as far as the storm. The storms of life are a certainty, the winds and rains come fast and furious. The good news for Christians is that God’s love comes just as quickly, just as heavily and often with just as much noise- to quote a popular song- Gods love comes “upon us wave on wave.” What an incredible image! When we are in the pit, He brings us out-even if we climbed into that pit ourselves. When our life is slipping away- he gives it back better than new- even if we were the ones who let it go to begin with. When the storms of life have us by the throat- his love comes ”wave on wave”- and matches the storm- rumble for rumble-NO MATTER WHAT. Then, if we are lucky He calls us again and we get to go with Him.
Now of course Jonah goes on to have further moments of conflict followed by clarity with God. It isn’t as if this one storm was enough for Jonah to get the message forever. Nor will one storm be enough for you and me to get it right either. So, listen hard, try hard and follow closely so as not to get lost. Sometimes, we will go too far and we will earn a big time out and we will ALL spend some time in the belly of the proverbial fish. All God wants is the best we’ve got. Some days it is better than others but it is always enough for the one who made us.
My prayer for you all is that the fish that swallows you would be friendly and that you would always remember that like the words of Jonah- God can hear your prayers from your own personal wilderness and always from the inside of ANY fish.
PRAYER: Dear God, help me to always hear your call and to be brave enough to answer it. Forgive me when I turn away and when I run. Deliver me from the storms of my life. Please come and find me like only you can and change my heart to be more like yours. Remind me that your call will never take me to a place that your Grace will not follow me. As always Lord, speak loud enough so that even on my busiest days I can hear you. AMEN
Caitlyn Bailey, Lay Leader
Ginter Park United Methodist Church