Some of you are in a dark place right now, feeling imprisoned, feeling overwhelmed. Everything around seems gray or even black. You have been through a fight and are in the midst of a fight.
Paul and Silas show us one way to handle it when that has happened. In Acts 16:16-28, they were flogged, imprisoned, and put in stocks for preaching Christ. They hadn’t committed a crime, but had only obeyed God and preached Jesus Christ. In the same way, our chronic illnesses and disabilities are not something we requested. Yet, by God’s grace we can respond as Paul and Silas did. Let’s take a look.
“25 And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.”
The story goes on to tell how the jail keeper and his household became Christians because of their testimony.
My mom has been an amazing example of praising in storms. She simply praises God in the dark days. In one ER visit, my brother’s waiting room time was interrupted when a discharged patient came out rejoicing. She found him and said, “Your mom just lead me to Jesus Christ. I got saved!” While in tremendous pain, my mom was more interested in telling others about Him than her own pain and needs. She praised His name.
I will be honest. I still have a very long way to go in this area, but what an amazing example Paul and Silas are for us. Isolation can feel like a imprisonment. God can turn that isolation into a worship service.
Praise Him in the storm! You never know who will be drawn to Him because of your praise!
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