Encouragement through Trials

Acts 16:35-40

English Standard Version (ESV)

³⁵ But when it was day, the magistrates sent the police, saying, “Let those men go.” ³⁶ And the jailer reported these words to Paul, saying, “The magistrates have sent to let you go. Therefore come out now and go in peace.” ³⁷ But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly? No! Let them come themselves and take us out.” ³⁸ The police reported these words to the magistrates, and they were afraid when they heard that they were Roman citizens. ³⁹ So they came and apologized to them. And they took them out and asked them to leave the city. ⁴⁰ So they went out of the prison and visited Lydia. And when they had seen the brothers, they encouraged them and departed.

(https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+16%3A35-40&version=ESV)

I have always thought this passage was a little funny.  Paul and Silas have now been told they can leave prison but they refuse because they wanted an apology.  If I was wrongfully or rightfully put in prison and I was told I could leave, I wouldn’t hesitate, I would be out the door as fast as I could go!   Not Paul and Silas, they demand to see those who placed them in this prison.  I guess it is safe to say that I am not like Paul or Silas!

When they left the prison they did something even more amazing, they went to their friend and sister in Christ, Lydia and their brothers in Christ.  They didn’t go to them and complain about their mistreatment in prison, they went to encourage them.  They had just been in prison and told to leave the city but they were the ones doing the encouraging.  However, they did not focus on the negative things that happened but rather their ministry while in the prison.  If they had focused on the negative, they would not have found any encouraging words to share with their brothers and sister in Christ.

Do you ever find yourself in situations where you feel you have been wrongly accused?  What do you do about it?  Do you complain to those who wrongfully accused you or do you go and tell everyone else?  Paul and Silas make it clear that you should confront those who have wronged you.  They did this and then they left the matter behind them and went to encourage others.  Wow, again, I must say that I am not like Paul or Silas.  I have work to do in that area.

As you seek Him today, may you find comfort in knowing that your trials can bring encouragement to others by focusing on the positive and leaving the negative behind.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila