The other day I was driving down the road when I noticed something wasn’t right with the car. I called the Hubs and described the issue to him. We both were worried about the situation. I called a friend who is also a mechanic and described the problem to him. He asked me to bring the car to him and He would check it out. The problem though was I was worried I wouldn’t be able to make it to his house. So I prayed and headed his way. And of course turned on my music. The first song that came on? Praise You in this Storm by Casting Crowns. Yes. Praise Him in this storm. Car issues are never fun. I could only praise Hi. I knew He already had it worked out. I knew it was in His hands already. So praise Him.
There were some men that praised God during their storm. Paul and Silas were on their way to pray when they were followed by a slave girl that was possessed with a spirit of divination. Her masters made their money off of the slave girl’s fortune telling. As she followed the men, the cried out, “These men are the servants of the most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation.” If someone is known for being possessed, saying this would actually do more harm than good to their ministry. Yes, she was speaking the truth. Sometimes the source of truth causes more problems than it does good. It almost becomes more mocking than helpful. And after a few days of this, Paul gets a little annoyed. Well, more than a little. The Bible says he was greatly annoyed. Understandable. Paul turned to the girl and said, “I command you in the name of Jesus Christ to come out if her.” And the spirit came out of her. Well, the girl’s masters were not pleased. They just lost a great deal of their income with her being freed of the spirit. The masters dragged Paul and Silas into the marketplace to the authorities. They were furious. They then told the magistrates that these men were troubling the city and teaching customs that were not lawful for the Romans to receive or observe. Paul and Silas were beaten with rods and thrown into prison. The jailer was commanded to keep them securely. Their feet were fastened with stocks.
Paula no Silas were doing the work of God. They were not causing any trouble. Yet here they were beaten and in prison. But instead of moping around and throwing a hissy fit, they were praying and singing hymns to God. They were praising Him in this storm.
It is not always easy to praise God in our difficulties. Sometimes it is much easier to whine, scream, yell, complain. God why is this happening?! Sometimes it honestly helps to feel better by yelling. Get the frustration out. But what kind of witness would Paul and Silas have been at that moment?
At midnight, while they were praying and singing, there was an earthquake. All the doors were opened and all the chains were loosened. It was midnight, so the guard had been sleeping. But the earthquake awakened the jailer. He was scared for his life. What if al his prisoners escaped? He would have to pay for that with his life. So he was going to take matters into his own hands. But Paul called out, “Do yourself no harm, for we are all here.” What a relief. That night, the jailer was saved. From Paul and Silas’ testimony through prayer and song.
Sometimes our best witness is how we respond to trials that come our way. Are you going to praise God or whine and complain?
So how did our car situation turn out? Well, honestly it was a fairly simple fix for a problem that seemed catastrophic. The amazing thing? The Hubs got holiday pay on his check. The excess covered the parts we needed for the car. Praise the Lord.
So when you are in your storm, Praise Him. This is possible Only By God’s Amazing Grace.
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