Jonah 2:1,2 We create many of our own messes.

Jonah 2:1-2  Then Jonah prayed to the LORD his God from inside the fish.  He said, “I cried out to the LORD in my great trouble and he anwered me.  I called to you from the world from the dead, and LORD, you heard me!”

Jonah did not have to be in the mess he was in.  He could have just submitted to God’s will and done what God had given him to do.  But, Jonah did not like what God had told him to do.  He wanted no part of it and chose to run from God.  He ended up inside the belly of a fish simply because he insisted on doing what he wanted to do instead of what God wanted him to do.  God knew Jonah’s heart and did not let him get too far away.  God knew that when Jonah had reached rock bottom that Jonah would come to his senses and listen to God.

We are a lot like Jonah.  We get ourselves into all kinds of messes because we try to avoid what God commands us to do.  Often instead of running to God, we run away from Him.  We foolishly think that God doesn’t care and will leave us alone.  But, it is never quite that simple.  God loves us and will not let us get so far away from him that we can’t find our way back to Him.  He gives us ample opportunities to return to Him. 

God also knows the difference we can make in the lives of others and pursues us when we wander from Him.  He wants us to live submissively before Him so that we can help others who need our particular influence on their lives. 

The Good News is that God hears our cry when we call to Him out of our trouble, even when we are the cause of our trouble.  He does not turn a deaf ear to those who sincerely call on Him. 

Do not act foolishly and try to run from God.  Spare yourself from much grief and unnecessary trouble.  But, if you do, don’t compound your problem by not calling out to Him.  He loves you and will hear you when you call out to Him.  He will take you by the hand and restore you to a right relationship with Him.  He will deliver you out of your trouble.  Praise His holy name!