Praying and Singing...Not Whining and Complaining

"Around midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening.  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

Paul and Silas were doing exactly what God has asked them to do and ended up being "severely flogged and thrown into prison with their feet in stocks". 

Interestingly midnight in that cell didn't find them contemplating how this could have happened:
Does this mean we missed God's will somewhere? 
Is God just not faithful? 
Maybe God's not really good....

They're also not praying and agreeing together that they'll get released from this prison, justified and found innocent.  They are not even whining and complaining...and they have been severely flogged and are sitting in prison, not knowing what was coming next!

I'm ashamed at how much time and energy I've spent begging God to fix whatever is making me uncomfortable or insecure and how little time in difficult moments I've spent simply praising Him....not for what I want Him to do for me, but just because He is who He is and for what He's already done for me.  

Perhaps what Paul and Silas understood what was at stake.  Is MY comfort and MY security and MY future really what's important here?  The Bible tells us that as these guys were singing to God, "the other prisoners were listening."  And when a bit later, "the chains of EVERY prisoner fell off"...Not because they prayed a prayer of faith or joined in with the singing, but because Followers of Christ were there and weren't wasting their time begging God to make them comfortable. 

Was it worth the beating and time in prison to Paul and Silas when everyone's chains fell off and the jailer's entire family came to faith..... I feel sure they would say "Yes!".  

God needs us to go where people are hurting (or in chains and a prison of sorts).  Sometimes He calls us and we willingly go there.  Sometimes we find ourselves there without agreeing. 

Wherever you are and whatever you are living, live it with hope and praising God. 

You never know who is watching and listening.  And you never know what's really at stake!