In Acts 16:19-34, we read of a time when Paul and Silas were cast into prison in Philippi. After a beating from the Roman magistrate, they were thrown into the inner prison. That night, an unexpected sound came from their cell:

Acts 16:25 KJV: And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

A song! Not a song of grief or despair, but of joy and thanksgiving to God. Notice who heard them: the other prisoners. In the darkest hour of the night, a musical expression of joy came from two unfettered hearts. We read of the impact this had on the jailer and his family (they obeyed Christ’s Gospel), but we also read that the other prisoners didn’t escape when given a chance to. Perhaps they were more intrigued by the message and power of these two men–men who had freedom even while in captivity–than what lay beyond the prison gate.

I think it gave them hope. When we find ourselves in a type of prison (circumstance of feeling trapped, illness, loss, or cage of our own making), let our attitude be one of true joy and thanksgiving to God, rather than complaint and despair. After all, our response might help reach other prisoners nearby who are straining to hear even a single note of hope.

Psalm 42:8 KJV: Yet the Lord will command his lovingkindness in the daytime, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life.