Then, from the most hopeless place imaginable, Jonah prayed. Chapter 2 of his book is almost entirely that prayer, and it’s remarkable for what it isn’t: it isn’t a bargain or an excuse. It’s mostly thanksgiving, prayed before he’s even out of the fish. Jesus later pointed to Jonah’s three days in the fish as a sign of his own death and resurrection.
Historical Context
Jonah’s Prayer (Jonah 2:2-9)
I cried by reason of mine affliction unto the LORD, and he heard me;
out of the belly of hell cried I, and thou heardest my voice.
For thou hadst cast me into the deep, in the midst of the seas;
and the floods compassed me about:
all thy billows and thy waves passed over me.
Then I said, I am cast out of thy sight;
yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.
The waters compassed me about, even to the soul:
the depth closed me round about,
the weeds were wrapped about my head.
I went down to the bottoms of the mountains;
the earth with her bars was about me for ever:
yet hast thou brought up my life from corruption, O LORD my God.
When my soul fainted within me I remembered the LORD:
and my prayer came in unto thee, into thine holy temple.
They that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy.
But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving;
I will pay that that I have vowed.
Salvation is of the LORD.
A Prayer for When You’ve Run from God
Lord, like Jonah, I ran.
I knew what you wanted and I went the other way.
Now I’m in the deep, and I can’t get myself out.
“Yet I will look again toward thy holy temple.”
I turn back to you.
Bring my life up from the pit.
Salvation is yours.
Amen.
A Prayer at Rock Bottom
Lord, I’ve hit the bottom.
But you are here too.
I’ll thank you now, before I see the way out.
Amen.
Best Times for This Prayer
- When you’ve been avoiding something you know God is asking of you.
- At a low point, when things feel hopeless.
- During Lent, a season of turning back.
- Before confession.
Scripture Connection
“For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.” — Matthew 12:40
Jesus took Jonah’s story and made it about himself. The prophet who went down into the deep and came back up points to the one who went down into death and rose again.
Related prayers
For more Old Testament prayers, see the Habakkuk Prayer and 4 Sentence Prayer of Daniel. For coming back to God, the Prayer Before Confession and Prayer to Be Born Again.