Praise Through the Challenge
Pastor Zubeda Sing · 3 min read
“And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely.”
Paul and Silas had just had a great victory in casting out a demon, however their act of victory, troubled a prominent man in the city and his source of income was now cut off as a result of the demon being cast out. They were not only unjustly out in jail but badly beaten. The jailer was told to lock them up securely. Imagine that, there was a great victory and their reward was being thrown into jail. There is a cost to every part of ministry, but in and through it all, our trust must remain in the Lord.
Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.
Acts 16v24
They were not just locked up in prison but placed in the most innermost part of the jail which was a dungeon with water and dampness and a very great nasty smell all around them. They had stock on their feet and were chained. Surely by now, they were really angry that this was done to them. This was the least of their worries. They were glad to suffer for the Lord by giving off themselves to win souls to the kingdom of God. I am sure there is not one of us that can relate to this. Our suffering is small compared to this degree of pain and suffering.
But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains were loosed.
Acts 16v24
Paul and Silas were full of and controlled by the Holy Spirit, they were full of the word of God and had come to know God personally for themselves. They had absolute trust that God would come through for them. Their circumstances did not bother them, they rather chose to sing praises and lift up the name of Jesus. Their test was turned into a testimony. Their chains could not hold back their praise and thanksgiving. The love and passion with which they sang got louder and louder and just like the walls of Jericho, the prison doors were opened as the foundations of the prison were shaken. Praise opened the doors of not only their prison but those prisoners around them. The no fear and no flight mode that they constantly stayed in could not hold them back and brought freedom to all.
Thrivers always have a shout of praise and thanksgiving. Challenges just spur their faith on.
From the July 2026 issue, themed THE THRIVER’S THOUGHT LIFE.
