The crucible of crisis

God's Word is filled with examples of those who believed God and "commenced prayer." David certainly did." I waited patiently for the Lord; and He inclined to me, and heard my cry. He brought me up out of the pit of destruction, out of the miry clay; And He set my feet upon a rock making my footsteps firm" (Ps.40:1–2).

Paul and Silas experienced the same thing in that ancient Philippian prison when all seemed hopeless (Acts 16:25–26). And it was from the deep that Jonah cried for help. Choking on salt water and engulfed by the Mediterranean currents, the prodigal prophet called out his distress:

"Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the stomach of the fish, and he said, 'I called out of my distress to the Lord, and He answered me. I cried for help from the depth of Sheol; Thou didst hear my voice . . . All Thy breakers and billows passed over me . . . But Thou has brought up my life from the pit, O Lord my God'" (Jonah 2:1–6).

Often it is the crucible of crisis that energizes our faith. Think it over.