“But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them”. – Acts 16:25 (NKJV).
How we handle our midnight crisis and life’s challenges is dependent on our understanding and our maturity in faith. For some, it’s all about murmuring and complaining. To others, discouragement or despair sets in. Yet for others, depression and bitterness result. Midnight crisis could be an attack from Satan and his cohorts, it could be our personal failure or weakness, or it could be system induced. It could also be a trial of faith like the case of Paul and Silas, or John the Baptist.
Faced with midnight crisis, John became confused and discouraged. He had to send his disciples to enquire from Jesus if indeed he is the true messiah or not. He doubted in the dark what he believed and proclaimed in the light. John could not understand why Jesus seemed to be quiet and negligent to his plight in the trying moment of his life. He had expected Jesus to show concern and deliver him, but Jesus appeared to show no concern. Most people will ask, “God, why are all these things happening to me? Do you really love me? Are you really who the scriptures say you are? God, where are you? Why is heaven silent? Why am I suffering all these for your sake and you fail to deliver me?”
For Paul and Silas, it was a different attitude of joy for being counted worthy to suffer for his sake. They prayed and sang hymns. For weeping many endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
Prayer: Lord, help me not to doubt in the dark what I believe in the light.
Rev. Vincent Diolu