Written By: David Nehrig | CSUS National Director

Photo by: Leason Dancaescu

I love asking questions. They can be super silly or more serious, but they always get some good conversations going. 

I have been to several Christian Surfers Chapters where they ask a deep theological question to new people: “Who would win in a fight?” The fight would take place in 5 feet of water, and it would be between a great white shark and a polar bear. It’s a fight to the death, of course. This usually leads into many other questions like, “Would you rather get hit by a car or eaten by a shark?”

Recently, I was out surfing and for whatever reason, I am not sure, but the thought of getting eaten by a shark would not leave my head. The water was pretty clear, it was sunny out, and I could not stop thinking about it. It was bothering me so badly that I actually put my feet on my board while I was sitting, waiting for the next wave. As I paddled, I had a little more speed than normal.

It might be the fact that as a kid I watched the scary movie “Jaws,” and ever since then it has been my greatest fear. 

As a church, we are studying the book of Jonah, and in the second chapter of Jonah we read his prayer. This story is super scary. Jonah is in a boat running from God. A huge storm comes up and is going to sink the boat. The crew tries everything, even throwing all the cargo overboard. Then, Jonah says, “Throw me overboard.” At that moment, I would be terrified. The story gets even scarier when a huge fish (“Shark”, “Whale”, or “Megalodon”) comes up and swallows Jonah.  

Listen to the first part of Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the fish. 

“From inside the fish Jonah prayed to the Lord his God He said ‘In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me. From the deep in the realm of the dead I called for help, and you listened to my cry’” (Jonah 2:1-2).

I absolutely love this. Our God listens to our cries. He listens to our prayers. 

Would you rather have a God who never listens or one who hears you when you cry out to Him? 

Let us cry out to God with whatever is on our hearts.