My season in the belly of the fish

S - Jonah 2:  2-10    (NASB)
“I called out of my distress to the Lord,
And He answered me.
I cried for help from the [b]depth of Sheol;
You heard my voice.
3 “For You had cast me into the deep,
Into the heart of the seas,
And the current [c]engulfed me.
All Your breakers and billows passed over me.
4 “So I said, ‘I have been expelled from [d]Your sight.
Nevertheless I will look again toward Your holy temple.’
5 “Water encompassed me to the [e]point of death.
The great deep [f]engulfed me,
Weeds were wrapped around my head.
6 “I descended to the roots of the mountains.
The earth with its bars was around me forever,
But You have brought up my life from [g]the pit, O Lord my God.
7 “While [h]I was fainting away,
I remembered the Lord,
And my prayer came to You,
Into Your holy temple.
8 “Those who regard [i]vain idols
Forsake their faithfulness,
9 But I will sacrifice to You
With the voice of thanksgiving.
That which I have vowed I will pay.
Salvation is from the Lord.”

O- Jonah said these words from the belly of the fish after 3 days there.   His head and heart had been realigned back to the Lord and he recognized he had survived because of the grace of God, despite his disobedience.

A -  The application for me is to recognize my own disobedience and my own season in the belly of the fish.  It was a toxic season, designed to turn my heart back to God.  I confess that it was my doing, my falling away from God, away from my role as husband and father that brought me to this season.  I also proclaim the reality of God's grace.  I stand here today proclaim with joy that I am back on the right path and starting a new season.  God has provide a new occupation, provided housing for my family and kept in a location where we can continue to heal and grow.

P -  Dear heavenly Father, thank you for your grace and love.  I couldn't have made it through this season without you , despite my own shrinking away from you.  Thank you for the joy you have restored to my heart.  I pray that you continue to show me the path you have for me, and guide my steps.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen.