Brought To You By Journey Church; Pastor James Greer
Paul and Silas were beaten, bound, and locked in prison. But instead of breaking down, they broke into praise.
“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God…” — Acts 16:25 (NKJV)
Why? Because they understood something deeper:
When you know who you are, you know what to do.
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Don’t Let Pain Distract You from Purpose
When life hurts, our first question is usually, “Why is this happening to me?” But the better question is:
“God, what do You want to do through this?”
- Pain and purpose do go hand in hand.
- Many times, your hurt becomes someone else’s healing.
- What looks like a setback may be God’s setup.
Paul and Silas didn’t miss the moment. Their worship shook the prison, opened the doors, and led their jailer—and his whole family—to salvation (Acts 16:26–31).
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Kingdom Identity Leads to Kingdom Living
Paul and Silas could worship in the middle of suffering because they knew who they were in Christ. They weren’t defined by chains—they were defined by calling.
Here’s the formula they lived by:
Let God Love You + Love God + Serve and Give Out of That Love = Everything Works Together for Your Good
- Let God Love YouLet His love define your worth—not your work or your circumstances.
“We love Him because He first loved us.” — 1 John 4:19
- Love God in ReturnGive Him your full heart, even in hard seasons.
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart…” — Mark 12:30
- Serve and Give From That LoveDon’t just survive—shine. Serve others from the overflow of His love.
“Whatever you do, do it heartily, as to the Lord…” — Colossians 3:23
Result:
“All things work together for good…” — Romans 8:28
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Final Encouragement:
Whatever you’re going through—don’t forget who you are. You are:
- Loved.
- Called.
- Light in the darkness.
- Salt that heals.
You may not enjoy the trial, but you can still love your life when you live from your identity in Christ.
When you respond with faith, even in the fire, God’s purpose shines through you.












