"Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening. 26 Suddenly, there was a massive earthquake, and the prison was shaken to its foundations. All the doors immediately flew open, and the chains of every prisoner fell off." Acts 16:25-26 NLT
This must have been an amazing event to witness and also, wonderful for the prisoners who had been incarcerated for so long. One moment prisoners, the next free to escape. There is no doubt that this was a miracle. Note how Paul and Silas had been before this happened; they were praying and singing hymns to God and the other prisoners were listening. They weren't moaning, complaining or feeling sorry for themselves; they gave it all to God and He was only too pleased to take action. I wonder how many of the other prisoners were affected by this miracle and became Christians? I bet there were some conversions.
They had just witnessed how things can change so rapidly. Some changes, like this, are for the better, sadly some are not and we should always be aware of this. You may be in an a very difficult situation wondering how this will all turn out. Let me point out Paul and Silas' behaviour - they prayed and sang hymns - prayer and praise is the answer. Sometimes though, there is no time to do this as a change can be forced upon you without notice:
(1) This may be a doctor giving you a diagnosis that you were not prepared for. There are no words that can explain this; you may think why has God let this happen? Again, there is no answer and no matter what you do, it has happened.
(2) Then again, the sudden change may be positive like someone ringing and offering you the chance of a lifetime - it does happen. Like the example above, this too causes stress because you were not prepared for it. However, this is positive stress and when your head has made sense of it, you will cope.
This is life and this is how it goes and we have to find the ability to work through them. For Paul, Silas and the other prisoners, there would have been an initial shock to what had happened. Paul was was hoping for it, the prisoners were not. The prisoner's reactions may have been like item (2) above, totally overwhelmed by it all but thrilled that it had happened. Item (1) takes more handling. The shock of it all can make you feel numb and full of panic. This is natural but in the long term, not the way to remain. If you are a Christian, you serve a mighty God who is able to handle this. Many people are healed today; we must accept that many aren't. I can't answer why; but, God is still on the throne. God healed me practically instantly back in 1980 - my testimony. However, back in 2000, I had to undergo major surgery which I survived but, it left me with a disability for life. But what I will say here, is that, Jesus Christ is Lord and I would sooner have the disability and be alive than the alternative. But if I hadn't have survived, I would have taken my place in heaven because of Jesus.
So let me encourage you, whatever major change comes your way, be grateful that Jesus will see you through it no matter what happens.
Copyright 2023 Grahame Howard.
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