Paul and Silas were beaten and imprisoned unjustly. In the middle of this dark period in their lives, they were praying and praising God aloud. Most of us would react differently in these circumstances. We may: cry in self-pity, rant against the injustice, stew about how we could have avoided our present predicament, and plot our revenge. These disciples respond extraordinarily. Their focus is neither on their past nor their future, BUT on God.
Prayer and praise are not usually our first instincts in the midst of darkness. Grief, uncertainty, anger, self-pity, anxiety, denial, and despair can overtake our minds to the exclusion of all other emotions. However, darkness can be used as a tool to focus. Many of us close our eyes when we want to block out other stimuli and concentrate. We voluntarily choose solitude and quiet when we want to be alone with God. Why? We sense that the Lord is near in the darkness. Once all other distractions are removed, we hear His footsteps walking alongside us. We hear His comforting whispers. We feel His strengthening presence.
He made darkness His hiding place, His canopy around Him, darkness of waters, thick clouds of the skies. (Psalm 18:11 NASB)
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