Jonah’s lesson in gratitude
Imagine being stuck inside the belly of a giant fish for three days. The sights, the smells-it would be absolutely overwhelming. As hard as it is to fathom, this actually happened. The Bible recounts this incredible story in the book of Jonah. Jonah, the main character, is given a task by God-one he really doesn’t want to do. Instead of obeying, he runs away. His choice sets off a chain of events that ultimately lands him inside the belly of a fish.
While in the fish, Jonah has a change of heart. He begins to pray, reflecting on and thanking God for all the ways God has cared for him. His prayer concludes with this powerful declaration:
“But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed.
Salvation is of the LORD.” Jonah 2:9 (NKJV)
Jonah gives thanks, even in the most difficult of circum stances.
As we approach this season of gratitude, what if we chose to live with the same kind of thankfulness Jonah demonstrated during those three days? Perhaps we’d make better choices, remember that God sustains us through challenges, and avoid finding ourselves in our own “belly of the fish” moments.
