As I look around at the world today, it’s easy to notice a universal human desire to escape. Some people escape by scrolling on social media. Some through entertainment. Some through overworking or isolation. Some through addictions. We all know what it feels like to want relief from pressure, pain, fear, or exhaustion. The question is, where do we run when life feels heavy?
In Acts 16, the Apostle Paul and Silas were on a missionary journey preaching the gospel and casting out evil spirits. When the religious leaders heard of this, they were beaten, chained, and thrown into a prison with their feet locked in stocks after being publicly humiliated and attacked by the crowd. Around midnight, they were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly, there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once, all of the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose. (Acts 16:24-26)
Worship came before the breakthrough. That is what makes this story so powerful. Paul and Silas did not wait for the chains to fall off before praising God. They praised Him while they were still chained. It feels counterintuitive to worship in the middle of pain, yet their praise shifted the atmosphere before their circumstances changed.
Sometimes we wait to thank God until everything improves, but faith praises Him right now because He is still sovereign, faithful, righteous, and good. He sent His one and only son, Jesus Christ, to die a brutal death on the cross because He believed we were worth it. “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8). But He did not stay dead. God raised him back to life and defeated death. He is alive right now and seated on the throne in heaven. (Hebrews 1:3; Revelation 3:21)
Maybe your prison does not have bars on the windows, but you still know what it feels like to be trapped. Maybe it is anxiety, financial stress, addiction, loneliness, shame, grief, or fear. Whatever it is, God wants you to be free. The Bible says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free.” (Galatians 5:1)
Don’t wait until life feels better to praise Him. Worship Him right now. Thank Him right now. Trust Him right now. Even the rocks cry out (Luke 19:40), and there is power when God’s people choose praise in the middle of the night.
The Bigger Picture: Praise God right now. Don’t wait.
The Bigger Picture 