Why is faith important in times of trouble according to Jonah?

Jonah's experience in the belly of the fish highlights the crucial role of faith during trials. In Jonah 2:4, despite his dire circumstances and feelings of being cast away, Jonah resolves to look again to God’s holy temple, a symbol of faith and trust. This act demonstrates that faith becomes a refuge during overwhelming affliction. By turning his heart toward God, Jonah exemplifies that faith is not merely the absence of doubt but an active trust in God's unchanging nature and promises. Believers are encouraged to ground their faith in the knowledge that God is sovereign over their trials and is faithful in bringing them through, just as He did for Jonah. This pattern of turning to God in faith serves as a source of hope and strength in believers' own tribulations.