Why was Jonah’s soul fainting within him—why did he feel so overwhelmed?
Because he had rebelled against God. Rebellion is a result of stubbornness, it is rejecting God’s Word and will for your will and wants. Often it is a result of thinking you know more or are better than God. The main reason Jonah’s soul was fainting was because he was suffering the consequences of his actions. Many times, most people do not repent, or don’t change until they hurt enough that they have to change.
Why are we feeling so overwhelmed, why do we feel we are about to faint?
Check out your schedule—many times we get overwhelmed because we have overloaded our schedule. When you are overloaded, push through, but as soon as you can, take a break. Make sure you’re not trying to do what only God can do. The only person we can control is us, and the more we try to control others, the more our life gets out of control. Also, make sure that it’s not a sin, rebellion, or stubbornness that you are now suffering the consequences of your action.
When overwhelming situations come, what should we do about it?
“When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord ; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple.’ Jonah 2:7
The first thing we should do is pray. God wants to deliver us, He wants us to call upon His name during times of trouble, but He also wants us to change. If we want God to hear and answer our prayer, we also have to commit to doing what God’s called us to do.
‘Offer to God thanksgiving, And pay your vows to the Most High. Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you shall glorify Me.”’ Psalms 50:14-15
The second thing to do is commit to fulfilling your God given calling. Many times, we bring trouble upon our lives because we will not accept God’s assignment, calling, and purpose for our life.
Prayer + Commitment = Victory
Prayer + Participate = Prosper, Promotion, Provision, and Progress
‘“When my soul fainted within me, I remembered the Lord ; And my prayer went up to You, Into Your holy temple. “Those who regard worthless idols Forsake their own Mercy. But I will sacrifice to You With the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay what I have vowed. Salvation is of the Lord .”’ Jonah 2:7-9
‘And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure. Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’ II Corinthians 12:7-10
‘Better not to vow than to vow and not pay. Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error. Why should God be angry at your excuse and destroy the work of your hands? For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God.’ Ecclesiastes 5:5-7
‘So the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah onto dry land.’ Jonah 2:10
The third thing to do is anticipate what the Lord is doing.
‘I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. ‘ Psalms 27:13
