Jonah's Prayer Inside the Fish

Inside the fish's belly, it was dark and wet and stinky. Jonah couldn't get out!

Finally, Jonah did something he should have done from the beginning: he talked to God!

'God, I need Your help!' Jonah prayed. 'I'm in big trouble! The water was all around me. I was sinking down, down, down. I thought I was going to die!'

Jonah told God he was sorry for running away. 'I should have listened to You,' he prayed. 'Please save me!'

Jonah remembered all the good things about God. Even in the fish's belly, he thanked God!

'You are the only one who can save me,' Jonah prayed. 'I promise I'll obey You this time!'

Guess what? God heard Jonah's prayer! God ALWAYS hears us when we pray, even when we're in trouble because we made bad choices.

God talked to the fish. The fish swam toward the beach. When it got close to the sand—BLEEEECH!—the fish spit Jonah out onto dry land!

Jonah was free! He was wet and smelly, but he was safe! God had saved him!

God gave Jonah another chance to obey. That's what mercy means—God gives us another chance even when we mess up!