While in Philippi of Macedonia, Paul and Silas were unjustly beaten with rods, thrown into prison under guard, and their feet placed in stocks (Acts 16:23-24). Under those conditions, I suspect many of us would either be taken up with complaint, pity, or plotting our escape or release so that we could “seek and serve the Lord again.” Verse 25 suggests that Paul and Silas had a “different spirit.”
But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the (fellow-) prisoners were listening to them.
The ensuing verses indicate that God intervened: there came a great earthquake,…immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s chains were unfastened (v. 26); and the jailer, assuming that the prisoners had all escaped and he had failed at his duty, drew his sword and was about to kill himself (v. 27). Then Paul intervened, shouting loudly for the jailer to do himself no harm, because he and his companion(s?) were still there (v. 28). After which the jailer went and fell down before Paul and Silas and implored them: What must I do to be saved? (vv. 29-30).
And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you shall be saved, you and your household” (v. 31).
And it was so: the man and all his household heard the word of the Lord, believed in Him, were baptized, rejoiced greatly, and provided food and medical attention to Paul and Silas (vv. 32-34).
Rather than merely endure under their circumstances – which is unfortunately where many of us spend most of our time – Paul and Silas saw it like any other time: as an opportunity to “seek and serve the Lord.” Their prayer and praise were heard by their fellow prisoners (and likely dumbfounded them); and when their circumstances got even worse via an earthquake, they seized the opportunity to guide their prison guard and his entire household to salvation in Jesus Christ. Can I seek and serve the Lord where I am now, regardless of the circumstances? Perhaps it’s an issue of submission to the Lord’s control: do I need things to be according to my liking and plan before I will trust and obey Him; or will I let God be the God of my moments and my days, and gratefully join in what He wants to do?