Praise in All Circumstances

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

While traveling to Macedonia to continue their mission, Paul and Silas stop in Tyatira. Here, they meet a young girl who had a spirit allowing her to predict the future; this allowed her to make a great deal of money for her owners through her fortune telling. When she realized who Paul and Silas were, she followed them through the streets, shouting, "These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved!" After this kept on, Paul became so troubled by the spirit inhabiting the girl's body that he cast it out, and the spirit left her immediately. The owners of the slave girl were so upset that their "cash cow" was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and had them imprisoned.

When we think of missionaries now, we do understand the danger they can be placed in; however, there are times when reading scripture about missionaries like Paul and Silas that I am truly left speechless. To think, spreading God's word and leading people to salvation would have surely ended in your death, I can't say I'd be willing to take the chance if I'd been around in 46 AD! We have terrorists in the world today, and overseas or foreign missions may be risky at times, but I'm pretty sure in my mind I've always chalked it up to being His hands and feet in a strange place, eating strange food and sleeping on a cot. Don't get me wrong, I'm amazed and grateful for our missionaries; it's not always an easy job, and it's such a powerful calling, I couldn't imagine what I would say if God led me in that direction! But when reading about Paul and Silas, I know they were adapting to a little bit more than paella and papaya fruit.

So here they are, in prison, surrounded by others who may have done some really dasterdly deeds to get there...and what do they do? They don't cry and they aren't frightened; they don't look for a great escape or plot revenge on the owners of the slave girl. They witness. They share Jesus' story. They pray for those in need. They sing hymns. They freely praise God. Even in the darkest hour, at a moment when all hope must certainly seem lost, they never give up their mission, their purpose, their calling.
How many times in my day, week, month or even lifetime have I found myself in what I think is a dire situation, or a moment of desperation, and done everything but praise Him? And in those moments, who is seeing me?
I have found that as my husband and I grow stronger in our faith and our relationship with God, these tough economic times are less and less effective at getting us down. When I am in my weakest moment, full of worry and doubt, God reminds me He provides. You may not receive what you want, but you will always receive what you need. In these times, I praise His name and joyfully celebrate my love for God and his unconditional love for me. If I can be a witness to others when the road is easy, why can't I be a witness - like Paul and Silas - when the journey takes a steep, uphill climb? It's time to openly praise His name, and give Him glory and thanks!
Father, thank you for meeting my needs on a daily basis. I pray to be a great witness to others; make me a constant example of joy, praise, thankfulness and love for you. Amen.