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A Recap from Sunday’s Sermon

Preaching Text: Jonah 2:1-10

We all face storms. These storms have a way of putting us out of alignment with God.  So how do we get back into alignment with God?

In Jonah 2:1, it says, "Then Jonah prayed." After fleeing the presence of the Lord for all of Ch. 1, he finally turned to God in the belly of the fish and found God was with him all along.  For us too, prayer aligns us with God's purpose, God's presence, and God's peace.

When we pray we are reminded that even in our suffering, God is sovereign and in control (Jonah 2:3).  In the storms, we fear that God has cast us down and away from his presence (verses 2, 6).  But his sovereign purpose even in our suffering is always to bring us further up and further in (verses 6-7).  In the storms of our sin, he always works to save us.  In the storms of our suffering, he always works to sanctify us.  

Prayer allows us to see God's greater purpose for our present circumstances as well as feel his peaceful presence with us.  Guitarist Eric Clapton wrote about his experience when he prayed in desperation while in rehab, "At that moment, almost of their own accord, my legs gave way and I fell to my knees. In the privacy of my room, I begged for help... In some way, in some form, my God was always there, but now I have learned to talk to him."

Taking It Home:
This week, set aside some time to pray to God in the midst of whatever storm you are facing.  Be honest with God about what you are feeling.  Ask him to show you his presence, purpose, and let you feel his peace.  Or try asking a friend to pray with you about your circumstances.