Mid-week Message

Grace and peace to you through our Lord, Jesus Christ!

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.” - Acts 16:25

This week we learned about Paul and Silas’ journey to Thessalonica. That journey is part of a series of difficult journeys for the early church founders. Paul often ended up imprisoned during this time. While Paul and Silas were imprisoned in Thyatira, not only were they isolated from the new church in Lydia’s house, but they were also shackled in the innermost cell. Despite this, they prayed and sang hymns late into the night. How were they able to pray and sing in the darkness and isolation of prison? In their isolation, they remembered that God was with them. They remembered that God was a light in their darkness. They sought God’s presence and comfort through prayer and singing hymns. God met them there with a miracle: their shackles were broken and the doors of the cells opened!

In our isolation during this pandemic, it may be a long time until many of us can actually leave our homes. But even still, God can bring the joy of liberation and freedom to our souls by the power of the Holy Spirit. No matter what your specific circumstances are, take heart, and—like Paul and Silas—pray and sing hymns to God.

Grace and peace, Rev. Sarina