Praising In Trials

By Roseline Shola

Devotional Reading: “And at midnight. Paul and Silas prayed and sand praises unto God; and the prisoners heard them. And 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 hand were loosed.” Acts 16:25-27NKJV

The Message translation had put that verse 25 in a very sweet way for me. “Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. the other prisoners couldn’t believe their ears.”

Hallelujah! They weren’t singing hymns of deliverance nor of bitterness, they were singing hymns of praise, beautiful hymns to the Lord that the other prisoners were finding it difficult to fathom what their source of praise was, judging from their situation at the time.

It takes courage, a very big one at that, to sing praises to God in the heat of trials. It is much more easier to praise God at victory than prior victory or during the challenge. However, a man in Christ sees beyond his challenges and only sees a God who is bigger than his problem.

Prayer and Confession
I’m not compelled to praise God. I trust his beautiful plans for my life and I believe in his capability.

Further Reading: Ephesians 5:18-20, Colossians 3:16, 1Thessalonians 5:18
Reading Old Testament Bible Stories: 1Samuel 8-11