Paul and Silas were brutally beaten and imprisoned in a Philippian jail.

But they didn’t do anything wrong.

In fact, they’d just freed a woman from a demonic, fortune-telling spirit while going about their business – their FATHER’S business of sharing the gospel.

And yet, they were violently beaten and thrown into the darkest dungeon, the inner cell of the jail.

They had no light or fresh air, and their feet were bound in stocks. Yet, instead of feeling sorry for themselves and fixating on the unfairness of their situation or the sensation of their blood running like tears across their flesh before spilling onto the cold dirt…

They thanked God by praising Him.

In the darkest dungeon at midnight with what had to be the most excruciating pain they’d known, Paul and Silas prayed and praised their heavenly Father.

And their heavenly Father showed up.

The earth quaked and rumbled violently. The prison opened wide as their shackles fell off. They were free!

But…someone else was not. One remained a prisoner in that jail.

The jailer.

He wasn’t in physical chains or locked behind bars, but he was a prisoner to this world.

Paul and Silas held the key to set him free.

“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?’ They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved – you and your household.'” (Acts 16:29-31 NIV.)

The jailer believed. His family believed.

And suddenly, a life was changed. An entire family was changed. Eternity made room for more as angels rejoiced.

Light conquered darkness. An explosion of grace took back what the enemy tried to steal, what the devil tried to keep hidden in the dark.

Praise was louder than sorrow throughout that night. Imprisonment led to a celebration. A feast.

Darkness did not win. Discouragement took no prizes and held no trophies.

Satan lost his grip, and the captives were set free.

Oh, precious soul. We need to remember this story. We’re going to be led into some dark places, thrown into a dark and foul “dungeon” by no fault of our own.

We won’t have much hope to cling to or much light to show us the way if we rely on what we see with our physical eyes. And we can’t trust our emotions, either.

Cling to God when you’re in the dark. He’s there.

God was with Paul and Silas in the dungeon. He inhabited their praises, and He USED them in the dark to save a man and his family who were lost.

We might have to leave our bubble – our usual circle of friends and our comfortable way of life – to get our hands and feet dirty to reach those who are lost in despair, feeling no hope or purpose, who are clawing in the dark for a speck of truth.

If we truly are the hands and feet of Christ, we will be able to see beyond our pain and sorrow and recognize the opportunity God has given us to reach those living in this dark place.

Let our songs of praise echo throughout the prison cells as we jingle the KEY for all to hear:

“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved!”

Let the shackles crumble and the prison bars fall away as we ALL leave this place of darkness and head home to a wondrous feast with our heavenly Father.

And in His presence, we will be able to thank Him for using us in dark places as we celebrate how Jesus Christ freed us all. 

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