Near the end of Slihot every night, the evocative piyut “Mi She’Ana” (“He Who Answered”) is recited. It recounts Biblical personalities whom God answered and helped in their times of crisis or distress, and turns to God to answer us as well.
A video presentation version can be found here.
Yona was literally in the belly of the beast. God had commanded him to prophesy to Nineveh and tell them that in 40 days, their city would be overturned. But Yona fled from God’s mission, finding passage on a boat going elsewhere. When the boat suffered in a dangerous storm sent by God, everyone on the boat threw items overboard and prayed- that is, everyone except for Yona. Yona hid in the bowels of the ship and slept, telling the others later that he knew the storm was on his account because he fled from God. Reluctantly, the sailors threw Yona overboard, and God sent a great fish to swallow Yona.
Yona had rebelled against God, and was seemingly engulfed by death. He may have ignored God, and he may not have felt that his prayers on the boat would have been effective, but from the depths of the depths, he cried out to God. He did not abandon hope that God would remember him and have mercy, even though he had previously turned his back on God.
God had the fish vomit Yona out onto dry land, where Yona could begin his mission anew and this time fulfill God's command. It may feel too late, but it is never too late to change and improve; and it is never too late to call out to God.