Discussion Guide
Have you ever had that time in life where you prayed a desperate prayer? We are in the second week of a series on Jonah and this week we look at how he called out to God from the belly of a great fish. We all have those moments when we feel like we can hear the “Jaws” music playing in the background. Desperate situations call for desperate measures, and that is prayer! Let’s look at what we can learn and apply from Jonah’s prayer to God from inside the fish.
What you will need: A Bible or your Bible app, a notebook, pen, and highlighter. The verses highlighted below are linked so that you can easily access them during your study time.
Jump Start
1. What's something that can instantly make your day feel stressed or chaotic? (Examples: traffic, dead phone, kids arguing, being late, etc)
2. Read Jonah 2:1-2. Give examples from your life of “belly of the fish prayers.” How can you relate to Jonah as he prayed in Jonah 2:1? Jonah had already seen God’s power in chapter 1. Why do you think it took a situation like this for Jonah to cry out?
3. Read Jonah 2:2-9. Where does Jonah misremember or misrepresent what happened to him? At the same time, what things does Jonah say about God that are true? Why is it important that we recognize the truth about God verse our circumstances?
4. Read the following verses and compare them with Jonah 2. What similarities do you notice? What does this teach us about how God’s people historically responded when overwhelmed, afraid, or in trouble?
Psalms 18:6, Jonah 2:2
Psalm 42:7, Jonah 2:3
Psalm 31:22, Jonah 2:4
Psalm 142: 3, Psalm 107:5, Jonah 2:7
Psalm 3:8, Jonah 2:9
Action Step
Take sometime this week to think about your “belly of the fish” moments. Is there something you need to bring honestly to God? When things get difficult do you tend to run toward God, run from God, or try to handle things yourself? Is there a truth from Jonah that you need to remind yourself of? Choose one of these verses from Jonah or Psalms and make it part of your prayer to God.
Optional – Deeper Dive
Read Jonah 2:8-9, Ephesians 2:1, 4-5. What does Jonah recognize about his ability to save himself? How does Jonah’s physical rescue point us towards the greater rescue we receive through Jesus?