Anatomy of Repentance by Pastor Steve Lombardo (Jonah 2:1-9)

The story of Jonah is a mirror for our own lives, showing how God relentlessly pursues us with love and mercy, even when we run from Him. Jonah’s journey is not just about a prophet who disobeyed, but about a God who refuses to give up on His people. Like Jonah, we often find ourselves going our own way, convinced that we know best, only to discover that our path leads us further from God’s purposes and deeper into trouble. Yet, even in our rebellion, God’s grace intervenes—sometimes through storms, sometimes through unexpected rescues—calling us back to Himself.

Repentance, as seen in Jonah’s prayer from the belly of the fish, is not a shallow apology or a mere “I’m sorry.” It is born out of desperation, when we finally realize that our way is not working and we are not in control. In that place of brokenness, we are invited to release our pride and call out to God, trusting that He hears and saves all who turn to Him. True repentance also requires discernment—a clear-eyed recognition that it is God who allows us to reach rock bottom, not to destroy us, but to awaken us to our need for Him. Jonah’s experience in the depths is a vivid reminder that God’s discipline is an act of mercy, designed to bring us back to life.

Repentance is not just a feeling; it brings about a decision. We must choose to turn from our idols—those things we chase for satisfaction, whether pleasure, wealth, or power—and return to the only One who truly satisfies. This decision is both a gift from God and a response from us. God initiates, but we must remember Him and choose His way over our own. And finally, repentance is built on dedication. It is not a one-time event, but a continual, daily turning back to God, offering our lives in gratitude and obedience. Like Jonah, we may need to repent again and again as God reveals new areas of our hearts that need transformation. The Christian life is a rhythm of confession, repentance, and renewed dedication to God’s way, trusting in His relentless grace.

Key Takeaways

• 1. Repentance is born out of desperation, not convenience. When we reach the end of ourselves and realize our own way leads only to trouble, we are finally ready to call out to God. It is in our lowest moments that God’s grace meets us, offering hope and a new beginning, no matter how far we have strayed. [16:02]
• 2. True repentance begins with discernment—a spiritual clarity that recognizes God’s hand even in our hardships. Jonah realized that the storm and the fish were not punishments, but mercies designed to save him from himself. God’s discipline is not to destroy us, but to awaken us to His love and our need for Him. [18:53]
• 3. Repentance brings about a decision: to turn from idols and choose God’s way. The things we chase—pleasure, wealth, power—cannot satisfy the deepest longings of our hearts. Only in returning to God do we find true purpose, joy, and fulfillment, as we were created to live in relationship with Him. [26:18]
• 4. The work of repentance is both God’s gift and our response. God initiates by giving us the grace to see our need and the faith to turn, but we must also choose to remember Him and walk in His ways. This partnership between divine sovereignty and human responsibility is at the heart of spiritual transformation. [24:20]
• 5. Repentance is an ongoing dedication, not a one-time act. The Christian life is marked by a continual rhythm of confession and turning back to God as He reveals new areas needing change. Genuine repentance leads to a life of gratitude, obedience, and deeper intimacy with God, as we learn to trust His relentless pursuit and love. [31:35]

Youtube Chapters

• [00:00] - Welcome
• [01:11] - God’s Pursuit and Second Chances
• [01:59] - The Story of Bruno: A Lesson in Apology
• [07:28] - What Real Repentance Looks Like
• [08:13] - Jonah’s Rebellion and God’s Call
• [10:12] - Israel’s Calling and Jonah’s Reflection
• [11:27] - The Downward Spiral of Disobedience
• [13:07] - God as the Main Character
• [14:42] - God’s Relentless Pursuit
• [16:02] - Repentance Born Out of Desperation
• [18:23] - Repentance Begins with Discernment
• [22:42] - Repentance Brings a Decision
• [26:18] - The Futility of Idols
• [29:42] - Only Christ Satisfies
• [30:11] - Repentance Built on Dedication
• [32:40] - Forgiveness and Ongoing Repentance
• [34:29] - Growing Deeper in Repentance
• [35:17] - Closing Prayer

Bible Reading

Jonah 2:1-10 (ESV) — > Then Jonah prayed to the Lord his God from the belly of the fish, saying,
> “I called out to the Lord, out of my distress,
> and he answered me;
> out of the belly of Sheol I cried,
> and you heard my voice.
> For you cast me into the deep,
> into the heart of the seas,
> and the flood surrounded me;
> all your waves and your billows
> passed over me.
> Then I said, ‘I am driven away
> from your sight;
> yet I shall again look
> upon your holy temple.’
> The waters closed in over me to take my life;
> the deep surrounded me;
> weeds were wrapped about my head
> at the roots of the mountains.
> I went down to the land
> whose bars closed upon me forever;
> yet you brought up my life from the pit,
> O Lord my God.
> When my life was fainting away,
> I remembered the Lord,
> and my prayer came to you,
> into your holy temple.
> Those who pay regard to vain idols
> forsake their hope of steadfast love.
> But I with the voice of thanksgiving
> will sacrifice to you;
> what I have vowed I will pay.
> Salvation belongs to the Lord!”
> And the Lord spoke to the fish, and it vomited Jonah out upon the dry land.

Romans 10:13 (ESV) — > For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

Ecclesiastes 2:10-11 (ESV) — > And whatever my eyes desired I did not keep from them. I kept my heart from no pleasure, for my heart found pleasure in all my toil, and this was my reward for all my toil. Then I considered all that my hands had done and the toil I had expended in doing it, and behold, all was vanity and a striving after wind, and there was nothing to be gained under the sun.

Observation Questions

1. In Jonah 2, what circumstances finally led Jonah to pray and call out to God? ([09:28])
2. According to Jonah’s prayer, who does Jonah recognize as being in control of his situation, even in the depths of the sea? ([18:53])
3. What does Jonah say about those who “pay regard to vain idols” in verse 8, and what does he contrast this with? ([26:06])
4. In Romans 10:13, what is the promise given to those who call on the name of the Lord?

Interpretation Questions

1. Why do you think Jonah waited until he was at his lowest point before turning to God in prayer? What does this reveal about human nature and our relationship with God? ([16:02])
2. The sermon says that God’s discipline (the storm and the fish) was actually an act of mercy, not punishment. How does this change the way we might view hardships in our own lives? ([14:15])
3. The passage in Ecclesiastes describes the pursuit of pleasure, wealth, and work as “vanity.” How does this relate to Jonah’s realization about idols in his prayer? ([28:29])
4. The sermon describes repentance as both God’s gift and our response. How do these two aspects work together in the process of spiritual transformation? ([24:20])

Application Questions

1. The sermon says repentance is “born out of desperation, not convenience.” Can you think of a time when you only turned to God after you had run out of options? What did you learn from that experience? ([16:02])
2. Jonah realized that the storm and the fish were God’s way of saving him from himself. Is there a “storm” or difficult situation in your life right now that might actually be God’s mercy at work? How can you discern God’s hand in your hardships? ([18:53])
3. Jonah had to let go of his idols and choose God’s way. What are some “idols” (things you chase for satisfaction) in your own life that you need to turn from? How can you take a practical step this week to do that? ([26:18])
4. The sermon says repentance is not just a feeling but a decision. Is there an area of your life where you know you need to make a change, but you’ve been putting it off? What’s holding you back from making that decision? ([22:51])
5. Repentance is described as an ongoing, daily dedication. What would it look like for you to build a regular rhythm of confession and turning back to God in your daily routine? ([31:35])
6. The story of Jonah is a mirror for us. In what ways do you see yourself in Jonah’s story—either running from God, resisting His call, or needing a second chance? ([13:07])
7. The sermon ends by saying that God relentlessly pursues us with love and mercy. How does knowing this change the way you approach God after you’ve failed or messed up? ([14:42])