I’m one of those people who loves to plan. Every year, I buy a new planner thinking it will somehow change my life. (It never does.) Then there are the planning apps I use to keep track of work, the house cleaning, and what we’re eating for dinner. This all drives my husband crazy, I’m sure.
But there is only so much in life that we can actually plan and control. A planner can’t show you an unexpected phone conversation with an old friend. Or tell you the week your kids will be sick and home from school. A planner can’t show us the opportunities God will bring our way before they happen. But God often does amazing things through those unexpected detours.
In Acts 16, Paul and Silas are on their way to prayer, when they encounter a detour of their own (Acts 16:16). The spirit inside the fortune-telling girl knew the truth about God’s power, and she followed them for days saying the same thing over and over. Eventually, Paul cast the spirit out of her (v.18). Her master’s response? They were furious to lose their livelihood, and took Paul and Silas to the chief magistrates, who threw them in prison (v.23). Now, Paul and Silas could choose to be angry and frustrated. They could feel bad for themselves, or stress about the fact that their plans were thrown off track. They could keep to themselves and be rude to the other prisoners. But that’s not what they did.
Instead, they used where God placed them as an opportunity.
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.
—Acts 16:25
In a frustrating situation, they praised God. Paul and Silas prayed. They recounted what they know about who God is. At midnight, they worshipped. The best part about this whole thing? “The prisoners were listening to them” (v.25)
Paul and Silas’s direct response to their situation was faith. And because of how they chose to respond, they end up leading an entire family to the Lord (vv.32–34). A midnight deliverance probably isn’t what anyone expected. But the unexpected is often where God shows up and does the miraculous.
Maybe you’re like me—you don’t like disruptions, distractions, or things that mess up your plans. But I’m learning that sometimes, God uses our daylight disruptions to bring midnight deliverance. That means our response matters, even in the inconvenient moments of life. Our perseverance and faith in our hopeless moments are actually a way we can bring glory to God.
In the dark spots of our life situations, in the disruptions to our best plans, we have a choice to either praise or complain. Will we be found praising God?
Praying for your student Kathy
Praying for you EB. I’ve been there 2x as well. Tough days. Take time to grieve.
AB , i see you, I understand where you are, and I am praying for you. 2021 has been 2 miscarriages for us as well, I had my first miscarriage which was missed & my body wouldn’t let go which resulted in a D&C after medication wouldn’t release our baby with no heart beat, then after many months I had our second miscarriage. My heart is with you. Cling to the goodness the Word tells us about the Lord & the future we have with him in heaven, not what our fallen world tries to tell us about who God is. Because HE is good and He is heartbroken for us in this broken world. One day we will be with Him in the fullness of His presence, standing before him whole & complete, lacking nothing holding no sorrow. ❤️
“Our perseverance and faith in our hopeless moments are actually a way we can bring glory to God.”
I so needed this today! Thank you!
Kaitlyn G, Paul insisting on the magistrates publicly admitting their wrong he did it much for the honor of the Roman name, as for the honor of the Christian name; for he considered, that should he and his companion go out of the prison in such a private manner, it might be taken for granted, that they had been guilty of some notorious offence, and had justly suffered the punishment of the law for it, which would have been a reproach to Christianity, and a scandal to the Gospel: wherefore the apostle refuses to go out in this manner making a point that the Gospel is not wrong.
Thank you ERB I’m going to look this up right now. I am definitely an 80s girl. And I love the Christian music from the 80s.
Oh my goodness do I feel convicted, but in a very good way. Thank you Jesus. As most of you know I injured my ankle. Yesterday cast came off and x-rays showed it’s healing properly. But now I’m in a boot.So no running for me for quite a while. Boot is on for six weeks or so. All this to say, I know it’s my God that slowed me down. As a single working mom and wanting to do it all including running, my God slowed me down. And though it hurt to hear the news that I won’t be running for quite some time, I will praise the Lord. I know my God has a plan one that is protecting me from harm. And opportunity to pour more into my daughter.
The story of Paul and Silas always alswys stirs my heart. That we could sing praises in the dark times could set others free from prison. How AWESOME is our God. AB, I am praying for you, I am so sorry for your loss and pain. Asking God to hold you, that you may feel His arms around you and know how much He loves you. I saw ERB’s post with the Ray Boltz song and then your post praising God in your depths. It is incredible, the simultaneous postings, you AB doing what was in this song the scriptures in the midst of your pain. But God, love and hugs dear Sisters, ERB my Mom always listened to Ray Boltz, I love Watch the Lamb, and At the foot of the Cross. Not sure if those are the exact titles, but so good Sisters, listen if, when you have time. Our God is with us, Emmanuel, please say a pray for strength for me I have been working really hard into the night packing, cleaning, and have the day to move, my body is worn out asking God for His strength and to not get sick, and energy enough to be ready for all my girls, daughter and grands to celebrate my Peyt and Lexi’s birthdays. Thank you, my diabetes and me constantly going don’t work well together. Prayinf Foster Mama, Mari V. Arina, I read all the live and just want you to know I too have been where you are. What I have found in my life is that in the times God is calling me deeper into relationship with Him, that my humaness feels inadequate and questions my mustard seed faith is when He has grown me the most and I opens my eyes to all He has for me. Hugs and Love Sisters.