Have you ever went through something so difficult that it just felt dark?
There are times in our life when things happen that come on by surprise. I really feel this is the hardest. It just happens unexpectedly with no warning and suddenly your life is turned upside down. You feel as if every dream that you had is now gone. You may be in physical pain, emotional pain. Maybe you have suffered a great loss or several great losses. You may be in a situation that you do not see the light at the end of the tunnel.
I think we all, at some point in our lives experience a time when it seems like darkness has completely overtaken us. I think we all have been in the dark of night when it looks like all hope is lost. What about you? Where are you right now in your life. If you are reading this article you are probably experiencing some darkness.
I want to encourage you with the Word of God today. Read this passage below and let it come alive in your heart.
In Acts 16:16-40 Paul and Silas experienced the dark of night in their life and ministry. Paul and Silas had been doing the work of the Lord. They cast out an evil spirit that was in a girl who was a fortune teller. When her owners realized what had happened they had Paul and Silas beaten severely and placed in prison.
Think about the physical pain they were in. Their flesh was torn and they was placed in a cold prison with stocks on their feet. They were in a weakened physical state. But what happened at the midnight was amazing. It was something that we all can learn from and apply to our darkest moments.
Even though their physical bodies was in pain, and even though they were feeling the same way any of us would feel in a situation like that. What they did in the midst of the darkness and the midst of the pain had an impact that effected the entire place.
They begin singing! They began to praise God in the midst of the darkness and in the midst of the pain. They were not doing what most people would be doing. They were not complaining. They were praising!
The result of their praise to the Lord, caused the whole prison to shake. It caused the chains to fall of. It caused those around them to listen and see what was happening. It caused the jailors and their whole households to be saved and to believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.
You may be in a bad situation right not and you may not feel like praising. But if you would lift your hands to the Lord and however you can, begin to praise Him in the midst of your situation. I don’t praise Him for the situation but I praise Him because He is greater than the situation. Just praise Him and feel His peace and presence surround you and begin to break the chains of depression off of you, break the strongholds off you. And even change the lives of those around you because they see that you are doing something different than most. You are giving God glory in the midst of your darkest night.
Be encouraged, child of God! He sees all and He is with you in a powerful way even in the dark of night!