“From inside the fish  Jonah prayed to the Lord his God. He said: “In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the depths of the grave I called for help, and you listened to my cry.” (Jonah 2:1-2, NIV)

Father, help us to believe You are the Author and the Perfecter of our lives. We don’t want to react our of doubt, and we don’t want to live under our self-made structures. We want to hear Your voice, to be obedient in response, and to be grateful for that which You have appointed us. Be with each of us when we find ourselves trapped in the belly of a fish, flailing for freedom and tempted to despair. This which we see as impossible is nothing more than an opportunity to return to You and bring You glory. Thank you for Your mercy and Your patience as we fail over and over again, believing we have a better way. Who are we to deserve a God who is gracious with His love? May we seek Your will over ours every day, and may we never forget the God who provides both the sun and the shade.

(Taken from “What Women Fear” by Angie Smith, page 146)

I call.

He listens.

And He answers.

Today I am joining with … The Sunday Community and Spiritual Sundays and Sunday Stillness and Still Saturday and Scripture & A Snapshot and Sacro Speco .