DAILY TEXT, Sunday, June 15, 2025, I called upon the Lord, and he answered me (Jonah 2:2).

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Sunday, June 15, 2025

I called upon the Lord, and he answered me (Jonah 2:2).

While in the belly of the fish, Jonah knew that Jehovah would hear his humble prayer and help him, for he was repentant. Later, when he returned to dry land, he was ready to accept his mission and fulfill it. (Jonah 2:10–3:4) When you are going through a trial, do you sometimes feel so distressed that it is very difficult for you to pray? Or do you feel as if you lack the strength to study? Remember, Jehovah fully understands what you are going through. So, even when you pray a simple prayer to him, you can be confident that he will give you just what you need. (Eph. 3:20) If physical or emotional pain makes reading and studying difficult for you, it might be a good idea to listen to Bible recordings or our publications. Another way to help is to play one of our songs or a video from jw.org. When you pray to Jehovah and look for answers to your prayers in the spiritual gifts he gives, it is as if you are saying, “Please give me strength.” w23.10 13 par. 6; 14 par. 9.

What gave Jonah strength in the fish's belly? (Jonah 2:1, 2, 7)

What did Jonah do to gain strength inside the fish's belly? From that lonely place, he prayed to Jehovah. (Read Jonah 2:1, 2, 7.) Even though he had disobeyed Him, Jonah knew that Jehovah would hear his humble prayer, for he was repentant. He also reflected on the Scriptures. How do we know this? Because in his prayer, which is recorded in Jonah chapter 2, he used many words and expressions from the Psalms (for example, compare Jonah 2:2, 5 with Psalm 69:1; 86:7). It is clear that Jonah was familiar with these passages. And because he meditated on them during his ordeal, he had confidence that Jehovah would help him. Later, when he returned to dry land, he was ready to accept his mission and carry it out.—Jonah 2:10–3:4.

What helped a brother to be strong in difficult times?

Jonah's example can help us when we face difficult situations. Consider a brother in Taiwan named Zhiming. He is very ill and, for serving Jehovah, suffers fierce opposition from his family. How does he find the strength Jehovah gives? By praying and studying. He admits: “Sometimes when problems arise, I feel so distressed that I can't calm down enough to do my personal study.” But he doesn't give up. He says: “The first thing I do is pray to Jehovah. Then I put on my headphones and listen to some Kingdom songs. Sometimes I sing them softly until I calm down. And then I begin to study.”

What Zhiming has learned in his personal study has given him strength at just the right time. Once, when he was recovering from a delicate operation, a nurse told him he had so few red blood cells that he would need a blood transfusion. But the night before his operation, he had read about a sister who had undergone the same operation. The sister's red blood cell count was lower than his, but she refused blood and recovered well. Reading about this experience gave Zhiming the strength to remain faithful.

What can you do if a test has left you feeling weak?

When you are going through a trial, do you sometimes feel so distressed that it is very difficult to pray? Or do you feel like you lack the strength to study? Remember, Jehovah fully understands what you are going through. So, even when you pray a simple prayer to him, you can be confident that he will give you exactly what you need. (Eph. 3:20) If physical or emotional pain makes reading and studying difficult for you, a good idea might be to listen to Bible recordings or our publications. Another way to help is to play one of our songs or a video from jw.org. When you pray to Jehovah and seek answers to your prayers in the spiritual gifts he gives, it is as if you are saying, “Please give me strength.”

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