“Your Struggle Is Your Strength”
By Rev. Everett R. Kimble, Sr.
And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed. And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? (Acts 16:25-30, KJV)
When was the last time you went outside at night and took a long gaze up at the stars? They are beautiful, but their full glory can only be experienced at night and the darker, the better. In this world, we are constantly pushed to aim for the stars, shoot for the stars, reach for the stars, and become superstars, but the people seen as superstars are those with fame and fortune and are living their lives in the limelight. As believers we are God’s superstars, shinning bright for the whole world to see, but we have to remember that stars shine brightest in darkness.
“And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.” Paul and Silas were superstars shining bright in the most unlikely place, but they were not superstars because of fame or fortune, they were superstars because of their ability to handle the darkness. Thrown in a dungeon for doing the work of the Lord they could have been crying and feeling defeated, but instead they were singing. They could have gotten angry with God for letting this happen, but they chose to praise Him. If ever there was a time to be afraid it was in that instant, but they stood firm on the promises of God and everyone there saw and heard them. They sang and prayed so hard that when the doors of the jail miraculously flung open rather than run away, they hung around so that they could receive whatever it was Paul and Silas had. Because of Paul and Silas’s star power, even the jailer and his whole family were saved.
And here is where I would like to encourage someone this morning. As one of God’s superstars your full glory shines brightest in darkness. In your darkest moments, God will use you to bring light to the world around you. God will use your midnight as the dawn of a bright new day for someone else. When it appears the lights have all gone out on your dream, that’s when God will work a miracle so bright He can’t be denied. He knows what you’re going through and if you will stay faithful and give Him praise even in your darkest hour, His power will shine through like never before, and you will have more joy than you ever imagined. Your adversity has a purpose, and your struggle is not a waste, God is using you for His glory.
Your struggle is your strength. Stay faithful and have a wonderful and fruitful Friday.
