Paul and Silas cast an evil spirit out of a girl. The evil spirit had empowered the girl to tell fortunes which brought her owners income. Upset at their loss of revenue, the owners filed complaints against them and Paul and Silas began to have what we would call “a very bad day”.
“The crowd joined in attacking them, and the magistrates tore the garments off them and gave orders to beat them with rods. And when they had inflicted many blows upon them, they threw them into prison, ordering the jailer to keep them safely. Having received this order, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks.” Acts 16:22-24
I don’t know about you but I think I would find it hard to be joyful and positive at the end of a day like that. But, what do we find Paul and Silas doing as they sit with their feet in the stocks in the middle of a filthy prison.
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them,” Acts 16:25
Can you picture it? What a way to respond to adverse circumstances. The Bible has 100s of references and encouragements to sing praises to the Lord. Interestingly, research has found that the same neuronal pathways that experience pain also experience music. Music can consequently help us deal with pain. Music also stimulates both sides of our brain which enhances our focus, improves our memory and engages us emotionally. Music also releases chemicals in our brains that can stimulate our health and immune systems and have positive effects on our moods and perspectives. I’m sure that this praise focused music also helped them to be particularly spiritually uplifted and less focused on their circumstances. And of great importance, it was positively impacting their fellow prisoners too!
Perhaps it was this connection and respect that caused the prisoners to remain when God sent an earthquake to free them all from their shackles. They could have easily fled but they did not. This became a testimony to the jailor. He was so amazed that the prisoners remained which saved him from dire punishment that he wanted to know the God who could have such an amazing impact. And, he wanted to share this great experience with others:
“And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their wounds; and he was baptized at once, he and all his family. Then he brought them up into his house and set food before them. And he rejoiced along with his entire household that he had believed in God. (16:33-34 )
Paul and Silas had a very bad day but they chose a positive response. They chose to connect with God and others via songs of praise and worship. And what had been a bad day turned into a wonderful, melodic night! I find this story to be very inspiring. It encourages me to respond to my own “bad days” and adverse circumstances with songs of reverence and praise to remind me that my Savior can turn those “bad days” into something good.