What Is Your Prison?

Consider this verse:

Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.  Acts 16:25

Notice first the time.  It was midnight.  Do you suppose Paul and Silas were tired?  I would be.  When I was 20 I could stay up all night.  Around 30 I could manage 2-3 AM.  I'm now in my 40s and 10 PM is a stretch!  But considering where they were and their situation, I'm betting they were a little tired.  

Speaking of where they were, did you notice where that was?  It says, "the other prisoners were listening."  Apparently they were in prison.  And you and I both know that dungeon is probably a better word for it.  Nowadays prisons are pretty decent with nice food and controlled environments because of concerns for human rights.  I would imagine the prison that Paul and Silas were in was dark, musty, stinky, cold and miserable!  Human rights were not a consideration in those days!


So it's midnight and they're in prison.  The most important thing to notice now is what they were doing and to whom.  They were praying and singing hymns to God!  So, I've made it perfectly clear that I am a worrier.  Guess what I'd be doing in that prison!  Crying and whining!  LOL!  I'd actually follow a progression of emotions and their manifestations.  I'd be scared so I'd cry.  I'd be uncomfortable so I may complain.  I'd wonder why God was doing this to me, why was He allowing this to happen, where is He?  Then I'd cry again!  But here in this verse we don't see if Paul and Silas whined or cried or complained.  Because if they did, it's not important.  What is important is that they prayed and they sang hymns to God!  

But there's one more important point I want you to see.  Did you notice who was listening?  The prisoners that were there with them.  Now imagine this scene from the perspective of a worrier like me.  Maybe it went like this:


Silas:  It's cold.  I can't feel my toes.  Wish I had some socks.
Paul: Yeah, my fingers are numb.  I asked God if He'd give us some heat but He reminded me that His grace is sufficient.
Silas:  Yeah.  Well, I'm hungry and it's mighty hard to be happy with grace when your stomach is growling!
Paul:  I hear ya.  And I tell ya, I kinda have to go to the bathroom but have you seen the toilet?
Silas:  I did.  I've been holding it since then.  Do you think God has abandoned us?
Paul:   Well, to be honest, I felt that way when we first got thrown in here but then I realized that He said He would never leave us or forsake us.  He keeps His word, we have seen that time and time again.  
Silas:  You're right.  I was hungry once before and didn't know what I was going to eat but He provided a meal for me.  
Paul:  And remember when there was no money for the taxes?!  He really provided then!  
Silas:  He did!  It isn't great being here but I can submit to whatever He asks of me because I know He'll bring us through.
Paul:  He will.  And even in death, we'll be with Him.  Let's pray together.  We don't know what the outcome of this will be but we do know that He has been faithful even in our darkest moments!  
Silas:  Yeah, let's pray!  And sing a few songs to pass the time!  
Paul:  (bows head and begins to pray)
Fellow prisoners:  (all listen in and marvel at the faith of Paul and Silas.)


Now don't think I'm being a heretic or sacrilegious for making up my own little scenario there!  Paul and Silas were ordinary men who did extraordinary things because of the God they served and the Lord they had faith in.  The Holy Spirit enabled them to overcome their circumstances and give praise to God!  I don't always work through my sorrows quite so quickly but sometimes I think it's because so many pile on top of me that I can't process them all.  But there's always hope so I don't live in despair!  Eventually in the end I come out praying and singing praises to God!  I think that's the point of the verse that we don't want to miss; that Paul and Silas were singing praises and praying in the darkest of places!  And others were listening!  

I have learned lately that it's best not to pretend that we as Christians never struggle, never get sick, never have financial difficulties because we do.  We were never promised an easy life.  We were promised that He'd be with us through everything, that He'd give us peace and that He would carry our burdens if we gave them to Him.  If people see you always happy, chin up, no cares in the world because you are denying that you have any cares don't they risk getting the wrong impression of the Christian walk?  I think we should allow people to see our struggles but at the same time allow them to see the peace that we have as we walk through them.  Everyone has problems, no one escapes them but not everyone has the assurance of peace that comes with knowing Christ.  We don't need to be showing the world how strong we are!  We should be showing the world our weaknesses and in doing so we allow God to show His strengths!  I only get through each and every trial by allowing my God to be my strength!  I have tried to do things in my own strength before and it brought me nothing but trouble! 

Let's finish the story in Acts 16:26-30:

Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everyone’s chains came loose.  The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.  But Paul shouted, “Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!”  The jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.  He then brought them out and asked, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

  
God delivered Paul and Silas from the prison, the prisoners stayed in spite of their chains coming loose and the jailer cried out to be saved!  Extraordinary!  He can do the same for you!  Worry is a prison that God wants to set us free from!  What ground shaking event needs to occur for us to believe!?  I've had a few earthquakes in my own life but I have put the chains back on my own feet and refused to leave the prison!  However I know God can help me in my unbelief, He will not give up on me.  And He hasn't give up on you!  


What is your prison?  Let's sing and pray together!  

 What a friend we have in Jesus

All our sins and griefs to bear!

What a privilege to carry

Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,

Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry

Everything to God in prayer!

(What A Friend We Have In Jesus; Joseph M. Scriven)