What to Do When There’s Nothing Left to Do
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the full sermon here.
Preached by Pastor Mike Woodard
Follow The Valley Church
We’re walking through The Gospel of Jonah—a story that shows us how our will and God’s will often collide. Like Jonah, we sometimes run from God, make choices that lead us into storms, and end up at rock bottom wondering what to do next. Jonah’s story reminds us that when we have nowhere to turn, God is still near and ready to rescue.
Jonah’s Rock Bottom Moment
In Jonah 1, the prophet tried to run from God’s call to preach to Nineveh. He boarded a ship, was caught in a storm, and eventually thrown overboard. Just when it looked like the end, God sent a great fish to swallow him.
From inside the fish, Jonah prayed. He couldn’t escape, control, or fix his situation—but he discovered what to do when there was nothing left to do: turn to God in prayer.
Step 1: Acknowledge Your Reality
Jonah began by honestly describing his situation to God: sinking to the bottom of the sea, seaweed wrapped around his head, overwhelmed and helpless.
Acknowledging our reality doesn’t inform God of anything He doesn’t already know—it frees us to face our situation honestly. When we’re drowning in problems—whether it’s finances, relationships, health, or school—the first step is to bring those details to God.
Step 2: Align with God’s Word
In his prayer, Jonah quoted from the Psalms. Even at his lowest point, God’s Word was hidden in his heart, ready to rise to the surface.
When life feels out of control, Scripture becomes the track that keeps us from veering completely off course. God’s promises remind us that He is with us, He is for us, and His Word is steady when our emotions are not.
Step 3: Abandon Your Will
Jonah concluded by surrendering to God’s plan: “Salvation belongs to the Lord.” He realized that redemption was not his to control—only God could decide.
In our own lives, abandoning our will means releasing control and saying, “Okay God, I’ll do it Your way.” When we stop fighting for our way and trust His, we discover the peace and freedom that come from obedience.
From Rock Bottom to Redemption
Jonah’s prayer shows us a pattern: Acknowledge, Align, Abandon. Once we do this, we can begin to apply God’s Word and watch Him alter our reality.
Your rock bottom season doesn’t have to be the end of the story. Just like Jonah was given another chance, God is ready to meet you in your lowest place and lead you into new life.