You Never Know
Acts 16:25 TPT
Paul and Silas, undaunted, prayed in the middle of the night and sang songs of praise to God, while all the other prisoners listened to their worship. Suddenly, a great earthquake shook the foundations of the prison. All at once every prison door flung open and the chains of all the prisoners came loose.
While in the Ivory Coast, our ministry team was taken to a slave castle there along the ocean. It was a very eye-opening experience. Our guide took us down into the dungeon section where all of the slaves were held for long periods of time. The ceilings were only about four to five feet in height, meaning anyone taller than that had to walk hunched over all the time, never being able to stand up straight. The walls were damp with dew and trickles of stinky water were running down their sides. A strong, sickening musty smell reeked, and felt like it would permanently be in my nostrils with no hopes of ever leaving. This is the atmosphere that Paul the Apostle spent for even years of his life, and amazingly wrong a large part of the New Testament from. He wrote and taught the Early Church as well as us today, about joy and peace and rest in the Lord in this horrible place, a dank, nasty dungeon. He and Silas didn’t succumb to having a pity party with wailing and woe is us comments. They worshipped! How amazing! I wonder if they were awesome singers, as the rest of the prisoners listened to their worship. What are you like when you find yourself right in the middle of a poor situation? Do you murmur and complain? Do you shut down and retreat? Do you give the sacrifice of praise and tell stories of previous victories God has brought for you? Do you sing and worship or do you mope? Paul and Silas most likely, were also placed in stocks which has got to be very uncomfortable to say the least. The jailor woke up startled and saw all of the cell doors standing open. He immediately assumed all the prisoners had made a dash for it. He drew his sword and was about to commit suicide when Paul shouted out of the darkness, “Stop! Don’t hurt yourself. We’re all still here.” What an example of trusting the Lord even to the point of giving the sacrifice of worship in such a hard, hard place. Can we trust God in the hard places, in the hurting places, in the places of confusion when there looks like there is no way out? Paul and Silas had even been beaten in the public square. They never got a fair trial. Everything was stacked against them, yet they still worshipped and blessed the Lord. What an example for us today. Paul and Silas had no idea if and how the Lord would rescue them from assured physical pain and suffering. What a depth in the Lord they had! I want to, by faith, worship the Lord in the hard places of my life. The magistrates even went to the prison and apologized to Paul and Silas. Can you believe that?! God moves in mysterious ways His wonders to perform. Worship Him today. Trust Him today in all your situations and watch to see what He will do on your behalf.
What about you? Have you been a grumbler or a worshipper? Will you join me in giving Him thanks and praise in every situation that is occurring in our lives? We walk by faith and not by sight. Let’s trust the Lord and believe for great things and especially great deliverances in His Name today. Blessings on your day.
