May 5, 2006

[Rev. Doc]

Joy In Darkest Times

"The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks. About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.
Acts 16:22-25

On May 27, 2001, Islamic terrorists kidnapped Gracia and Martin Burnham on Palawan Island in the Philippines. The couple was from Wichita, Kansas, and was serving with New Tribes Mission in the Philippines. For 376 days, the Abu Sayyaf terrorist group held the missionary couple captive.

Then on June 7, 2002, Philippine troops located the captors and their hostages and attempted a rescue operation. During the operation Martin was killed and Gracia received a wound to her leg. Just before the raid, Martin and Gracia huddled together in a hammock under a makeshift tent. "Martin and Gracia had really been thinking that there would be a chance that they would not make it out alive," said Martin's brother, Doug. "Martin said to Gracia, 'The Bible says to serve the Lord with gladness. Let's go out all the way. Let's serve him all the way with gladness.'" The two then prayed in their hammock, recited Scripture verses to each other, and sang. They laid down to rest.

Then the rescue assault began and bullets began to fly. At Martin's memorial service in Wichita, his brother Doug chose songs of joy for congregational singing, explaining, "Joy does not change. It's not based on circumstances..There's no reason why we can't express that joy this morning."

During your darkest moments, do you look up to your Heavenly Father in praise? Today in prayer, praise the Lord for all that He is and let your joy be in Christ throughout all circumstances.

Prayer: Ask God to help you see past your circumstances, and find joy in Him.

"Any one can sing in the sunshine. You and I should sing on when the sun has gone down, or when clouds pour out their rain, for Christ is with us."
~Anonymous