When you are overwhelmed by life…

“When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord.” —Jonah 2:7

The person who penned those words was none other than the runaway prophet Jonah. God had commissioned him to preach a message of judgment to the wicked people of Nineveh. But Jonah was unwilling to obey. When he took a boat in the opposite direction, God got his attention with a fierce storm. When the sailors found out he was the problem, they cast him into the sea, but his troubles were far from over. A great fish swallowed him whole, and he lay inside it for 3 days. This was the trouble that caused him to faint, but it also caused him to remember the Lord.

Jonah’s situation was worse than you can imagine. He was entombed inside a great fish, lying in digestive fluids, in complete darkness, and had little possibility of escaping alive. But this horrific situation caused him to remember the only One who could help him. And when he called out to the Lord, God heard and answered his prayer. What happened next can be found at the end of the chapter. Suffice it to say, that Jonah lived to tell the story.

If your soul is fainting within you today, follow the example of Jonah. Let your troubles push you toward the only One who can really help. Remember the Lord. He is your Creator, Sustainer, and Helper. He can carry you through your difficulty. He can put you back on your feet again. Remember Him. Talk to Him. Trust Him.