Good morning, friends! It’s time for another Strong and Courageous devotional. Today’s story is about two men named Paul and Silas.
Paul and Silas loved telling people about Jesus, but not everyone was happy about it. In one city, they were beaten, arrested, and thrown into prison. Now, if you or I were in jail for doing the right thing, we’d probably feel sad, scared, or even angry. But Paul and Silas did something surprising—they started singing hymns and praising God!
Imagine that—two men in a dark, cold jail cell, with chains on their feet, singing songs of joy to God. And as they sang, the other prisoners listened. Then suddenly, around midnight, an earthquake shook the prison. The doors flew open and everyone’s chains came loose! Paul and Silas were free! But instead of running away, they stayed and ended up leading the jailer and his whole family to believe in Jesus.
Here’s what we can learn: Joy is powerful. It doesn’t come from everything going perfectly. Real joy comes from knowing Jesus is with us—even when life is hard. Paul and Silas chose joy, and their joy pointed people to God.
Here’s your challenge: When something happens today that makes you feel upset or frustrated, instead of complaining, try praising God. You might even sing a song or hum a hymn. Joy can change your heart—and maybe even someone else’s, too.
