And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God and the prisoners heard them. Acts 16:25
The story of Paul and Silas singing- in jail. Which, by the way, was after a dreadful public flogging. Justice (or the lack thereof) could be swift and deadly in those days. Beaten, sore, and chained up in a miserable place, they defied desperation and sang. If it had been us, we would have probably been singing the blues. After all, Paul and Silas looked as though they were done. Toast.
I like to think they were singing God’s love and light into that dark and dangerous place. Bro. Earl and the Ambassador’s recently recorded one of my favorite “Greater Vision” songs entitled, “God Wants to Hear You Sing” which recounts this New Testament duo’s night. The storyteller says, “… But Paul and Silas would not be dismayed.” Miracle enough right there. But, there’s more — we read in Acts an earthquake shook the jail and loosed their chains. God freed them to move to their next place of ministry.
Maybe it’s time to start singing (and I don’t mean the blues). I don’t know the end of your story and I’m not quite sure how an earthquake would help today, but Jesus promises to never leave us nor forsake us. Good word that… “never.”
Life will improve. The house will sell some day, the kids will make it through school, and that future job opening will happen—but by then something else will have crept up onto the “wish-this-would-happen-soon list.”
Between now and someday, on the road from here to there, what warrants our attention? It should be God freeing us to move on. He tunes into our families and co-workers who need help. Look for God from moment to moment. Ask yourself– am I griping or singing?