Where is the moment we needed the most
You kick up the leaves and the magic is lost
They tell me your blue skies fade to grey
They tell me your passion’s gone away
And I don’t need no carryin’ on

You stand in the line just to hit a new low
You’re faking a smile with the coffee to go
You tell me your life’s been way off line
You’re falling to pieces every time
And I don’t need no carryin’ on

‘Cause you had a bad day
You’re taking one down
You sing a sad song just to turn it around
You say you don’t know
You tell me don’t lie
You work on a smile and you go for a ride
You had a bad day
The camera don’t lie
You’re coming back down and you really don’t mind
You had a bad day
You had a bad day…

(Composer, Daniel Powter)

This song was made popular in the early 2000’s and expressed the feelings of hopes dashed when disappointments come along in our lives that bring us down.  This is the  human, natural response in our culture. 

But then there’s Paul who is counter-culture with the message of Jesus, the Hope of Glory, who resides in all who believe and call on His Name.  Worldview is the opposite most times than what Jesus teaches us to believe with how to live our lives. 

Paul speaks from experience while inspired by God’s Holy Spirit when he writes letters of loving care, correction, and encouragement to the churches the teams of apostles and disciples began so they can grow in their faith and personal relationship to Christ in us (Colossians 1:27).   

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.”Romans 8:28

“Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again—rejoice! Let everyone see that you are considerate in all you do. Remember, the Lord is coming soon.Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:4-7, NLT

Paul is having a bad day—so, what does he do?  He and Silas pray with thanks to God while singing robust songs of praise—in a jail cell, shackled in chains. 

Wait, what?!

Acts 16, The Messaage

Beaten Up and Thrown in Jail

^16-18 One day, on our way to the place of prayer, a slave girl ran into us. She was a psychic and, with her fortunetelling, made a lot of money for the people who owned her. She started following Paul around, calling everyone’s attention to us by yelling out, “These men are working for the Most High God. They’re laying out the road of salvation for you!” She did this for a number of days until Paul, finally fed up with her, turned and commanded the spirit that possessed her, “Out! In the name of Jesus Christ, get out of her!” And it was gone, just like that.

^19-22 When her owners saw that their lucrative little business was suddenly bankrupt, they went after Paul and Silas, roughed them up and dragged them into the market square. Then the police arrested them and pulled them into a court with the accusation, “These men are disturbing the peace—dangerous Jewish agitators subverting our Roman law and order.” By this time the crowd had turned into a restless mob out for blood.

^22-24 The judges went along with the mob, had Paul and Silas’s clothes ripped off and ordered a public beating. After beating them black-and-blue, they threw them into jail, telling the jailkeeper to put them under heavy guard so there would be no chance of escape. He did just that—threw them into the maximum security cell in the jail and clamped leg irons on them.

^25-26 Along about midnight, Paul and Silas were at prayer and singing a robust hymn to God. The other prisoners couldn’t believe their ears. Then, without warning, a huge earthquake! The jailhouse tottered, every door flew open, all the prisoners were loose.

^27-28 Startled from sleep, the jailer saw all the doors swinging loose on their hinges. Assuming that all the prisoners had escaped, he pulled out his sword and was about to do himself in, figuring he was as good as dead anyway, when Paul stopped him: “Don’t do that! We’re all still here! Nobody’s run away!”

^29-31 The jailer got a torch and ran inside. Badly shaken, he collapsed in front of Paul and Silas. He led them out of the jail and asked, “Sirs, what do I have to do to be saved, to really live?” They said, “Put your entire trust in the Master Jesus. Then you’ll live as you were meant to live—and everyone in your house included!”

^32-34 They went on to spell out in detail the story of the Master—the entire family got in on this part. They never did get to bed that night. The jailer made them feel at home, dressed their wounds, and then—he couldn’t wait till morning!—was baptized, he and everyone in his family. There in his home, he had food set out for a festive meal. It was a night to remember: He and his entire family had put their trust in God; everyone in the house was in on the celebration.

^35-36 At daybreak, the court judges sent officers with the instructions, “Release these men.” The jailer gave Paul the message, “The judges sent word that you’re free to go on your way. Congratulations! Go in peace!”

³⁷ But Paul wouldn’t budge. He told the officers, “They beat us up in public and threw us in jail, Roman citizens in good standing! And now they want to get us out of the way on the sly without anyone knowing? Nothing doing! If they want us out of here, let them come themselves and lead us out in broad daylight.”

^38-40 When the officers reported this, the judges panicked. They had no idea that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens. They hurried over and apologized, personally escorted them from the jail, and then asked them if they wouldn’t please leave the city. Walking out of the jail, Paul and Silas went straight to Lydia’s house, saw their friends again, encouraged them in the faith, and only then went on their way.

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Paul and Silas had a bad day.  But without being jailed, salvation would not have come to the household of the jailer!  They probably would not have met him in normal circumstances.  God arranged a divine appointment, and an earthquake for good measure, using their bad day for His glory and the jailer’s good!  There is no one like our God!!

Without being beaten and shackled, along with the divine earthquake, the nobility of Paul and Silas would not have been known by the judges.  God knows what He is doing—always.  They were set free to carry on the work God called them to be and do.

“Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.”—Paul, Philippines 4:7, NLT

“I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”—Jesus, John 14:27, NLT

So, we had a bad day—how will we respond?

Read, take to heart, and memorize Paul’s words in his letter to the Philippian church.  These rich words of habitual resolve with praise will come as to all of us who believe with a desire to follow Jesus.  Read it over and over again until our first response to our challenging circumstances is—

“Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” 

God is always up to something new, don’t miss it!

Lord,

Forgive us when our first thoughts are all that is bad when bad things happen.  May our first thoughts be of You and what you will do in and through us as we live life in an imperfect world.  May your peace rule our hearts so that when troubles come, we will have the wisdom, tenacity, and focus that Paul had to look for what YOU will do through it all.  Bad days come and go—your love, mercy, and grace is forever!

Cleanse our hearts, renew our minds, transform our behaviors, refresh our souls, and restore the joy and peace that is unlike the world of you in us and us in you.

In Jesus Name, Amen