Acts 16:22-34 / John 16:5-11
Just for a moment, think about some of the lousiest situations that you could ever be in.
Or maybe just recall some of those lousy situations that you have been in, and that won't be too difficult to remember.
The memories of being in a lousy situation would also make us remember how we reacted to that situation, and more often than not we would have reacted in an equally lousy manner.
And if we put ourselves into the shoes of Paul and Silas, we would certainly think that we are in a real lousy situation.
Paul and Silas were stripped, flogged, given many lashes and then thrown into prison.
While we might be grumbling, to say the least, about the situation that we are in, Paul and Silas were praying and singing God's praises.
And while they were doing that, the other prisoners listened. What those other prisoners were thinking, we don't really know. But certainly they were amazed at Paul and Silas.
And more amazing things were to come when there came a great earthquake and the prison doors flew open and the chains fell from all the prisoners, and in the end the gaoler and his whole family were baptized.
Hence, it should come as no surprise to us that lousy situations are a prelude of amazing things to come.
We only need to keep praying and singing God's praises in order to turn lousy situations into amazing situations.