Scripture: Jonah 2:2 (NIV)

“In my distress, I called to the Lord, and He answered me. From the depths of the grave, I called for help, and You listened to my cry.”

Devotional: Amazing Grace, How Sweet the Sound

Through the book of Jonah, his story resonates with anyone who has ever found themselves in a place of rebellion against God. It begins with Jonah receiving a clear call from God: to go to Nineveh and call its people to repentance. Yet, Jonah’s response is to flee in the opposite direction. He embarks on a journey to Tarshish, seeking a path of his own making, a path devoid of God’s purpose. 

This is often our human condition—we hear the call of God, but our hearts are either afraid, prideful, or stubborn. We think we know better, convinced that our version of freedom will bring us fulfillment. The hymn “Amazing Grace” echoes profoundly here, reminding us of the incredible gift we have been given through Christ’s sacrifice. Yet, we sometimes trample on that gift, trading it in for a false sense of autonomy. 

When we seek to rule our own lives from our self-made thrones, we undermine the true freedom that God wants for us. We create illusions of control; we convince ourselves that we can define our destinies. Just like Jonah, we often fail to recognize that choosing our way leads us away from the very thing we long for—peace, purpose, and fulfillment. 

The truth is that freedom does not come through self-rule; rather, true freedom lies in surrendering to God. When we attempt to navigate life without Him, we may think we are escaping the constraints of obedience. However, what we often discover is that this misplaced freedom leads us down a path of pain, shame, and ultimately, enslavement to sin. Jonah learned this lesson the hard way. As he fled, he found himself in a storm, ultimately leading to his descent into the very depths he sought to escape. 

In these moments of chaos, we too can feel as if we are trapped in the belly of our own metaphorical whale, isolated from God and lost in despair. It’s in this darkness that we can cry out, just as Jonah did. “In my distress, I called to the Lord, and He answered me.” This cry is not one of self-pity but a plea for redemption. It is the realization that despite our waywardness, God is still merciful and attentive to our cries.

When we come to the end of ourselves, acknowledging our failures and sins, we can finally see the grace that was always extended toward us. God’s grace invites us to exchange our burdens for His joy, lifting us from the grave of our making. Imagine Jonah, wrapped in darkness, suddenly realizing that salvation could come only from the One he had sought to escape. As he turns in repentance, God eagerly saves him. 

As you ponder your own journey, consider the areas where you may be running from God’s call. What thrones have you built, and where have you traded the grace of God for your version of freedom? The incredible truth is that even in our darkest moments, God is waiting for our return. He wants to lift us from the chains of our making and place us on the path of life. 

He invites us to surrender, to step off the dead-end road of false freedom, and embrace His truth. This is not merely about turning away from our mistakes but actively choosing to run toward Him. Just as Jonah had to make the decision to obey God’s call after his experience in the belly of the whale, we too have that choice. With every step we take toward Him, we feel His hand lifting us from our own graves. 

As we reflect on the lyrics “I once was lost but now I’m found; was blind but now I see,” let us consider the grace that has not only saved us but has also opened our eyes to the life God has in store for us. Our journey of faith is one of continual return to that grace, finding our true freedom in Him.

Prayer  

Heavenly Father, thank You for the amazing grace that saves us from our wandering hearts. Help us to recognize the false freedoms we cling to and turn back to You. May we embrace the path You have set before us, trusting in Your plan and leaning on Your strength. Lift us from our graves, Lord, and restore our hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Closing Thought 

Let us remember that the sweet sound of amazing grace is not just a melody to be sung but a truth to be lived. May we daily choose to walk in His freedom, forever grateful for the grace that saves a wretch like us, transforming our lives from death to life. Just like Jonah, we can find hope and restoration when we turn back to the source of all grace. Each day is an opportunity to embrace His gift of freedom, recalling that our hearts can truly be set free when we run toward the God who loves us unconditionally.

A Writing

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
But I trampled on that gift of life
Refusing to be set free

I traded it in for my version of freedom
Ruling others from my own throne
Instead of following the Master’s plan
I wrote one of my own

I failed to see that it was a lie
A folly from the master of deceit
I thought I invented it on my own
How the system I would cheat

I learned the art of hiding out
And dodging from my own shame
Never taking responsibility
Everyone else was to blame

But in the end I was the fool
For freedom I did not understand
Freedom is not free you see
It didn’t work out how I planned

The freedom I was living
Turned out to make me a slave
Rather than bringing life to me
It buried me in my own grave

He led me down a dead end path
So He could show me His vision
It stopped way short of the water of life
And I had to make a decision

Would I turn around and walk away
Fleeing from the water’s edge
Or would I leave my road and run to Him
Embracing His freedom pledge

I stepped off that dead end road
And simply trusted He would save
With each step I took, I felt His hand
Lifting me out of my grave

Amazing Grace how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
I once was lost but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see

Copyright © 2014 by SkylerThomas