Singing at Midnight

“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang 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 every one’s bands were loosed.” Acts 16:25-26

When things are not going your way, what are you inclined to do? Most of us like to complain. We complain because it is too hot or too cold. We complain because we had to attend a meeting. We complain when we are passed over for a promotion or a raise. We complain when we are stuck in traffic. We complain when the car breaks down or we have a flat tire.

Paul and Silas had been beaten and chained in prison for preaching about Jesus. Their backs were bruised and bloody. They were in physical pain, and they had no hope of being released from their prison cell. In this dire situation, Paul and Silas did not complain. They did two things; they prayed and sang praises to God. We do not know what they prayed. Perhaps they prayed that they would be released from prison or that God would use their persecution to bring more people to Christ. We do not know exactly what songs they were singing, but we know that they sang praises to God. God miraculously intervened for them, and the jailor and his family were saved because of their testimony. When things are at their worst, in the midnight hour, it is always better to sing God’s praises than to complain about our situation.