What Not To Do When Bad Things Happen

Have you ever felt like giving up? Maybe life’s pressure seems too much and you just wish you weren’t here anymore?

I heard a great sermon by my friend, Dallas Berry, that will encourage you. It did me.

Dallas & I were freshmen together (and graduated from) Baptist Bible College in Springfield, Missouri (the greatest college in the world!). Dallas now pastors First Baptist Church in Marysville, Michigan.

The Scripture text he used was in Acts 16. Rather than quote the entire passage, (you can read it HERE), I want to summarize it. Paul & Silas had been sharing the message of Jesus in the city of Philipi. Several people’s lives had been changed by the Gospel. But some people didn’t like what was happening and had them thrown in jail. With an uncertain outcome, they began to sing praises to God. During the night, an earthquake opened the prison doors. Yet, even as the jailor was going to take his life because of the ‘escaped’ prisoners, Paul told him that they were all there. At once the man yielded his life to Christ and trusted Jesus as his Lord and Savior.

It wasn’t difficult for Dallas to make the transition to modern times. Even though most are not suffering like Paul and Silas did, many are in difficult circumstances in which they feel trapped. Some situations are because of the testimony of Jesus. Others are in afflictions because of the stress of life.

The point made was, “If Paul and Silas could sing in prison, not knowing their immediate future, why can’t we?”  Though the earthquake shook the ground, their character, confidence in God, and commitment to God was not shaken.

Dallas shared three life principles about ‘Singing praises in solitary confinement.’ I called it ‘What not to do when bad things happen.’

Don’t let your hurt squelch God’s healing.

When we are hurt, it a natural defense to protect ourselves. However, when we only think of ourselves when we are hurt by life or by others, we may miss the wholeness God wants to bring into our life. In almost every great Bible character (including Jesus), before God used a person greatly, He brought him through a valley. God can only heal what is hurt.

Don’t let your problems silence God’s praise.

It is when we are under pressure that our real character comes out. When everything is going wonderful, anybody can ‘sing a happy song.’ But problems have a way of pulling out what is really on the inside of us. Sometimes we don’t like what we see – confess it. Sometimes when we feel the problems overwhelm us the only thing to do is praise God for the opportunity for His light to shine brighter through us.

Don ‘t let your mess smother God’s message.

God had a city to save and a man’s family (the jailer) to rescue. In His wisdom, He allowed Paul to go to prison to demonstrate to this man, and the other prisoners, the joy God gives a man who gives His life to Christ. Paul’s words were truthful, but his actions were powerful. Our life is a message. We are a testimony and a witness every day. Whether we are a good witness or not depends on how we live our life. One of my favorite sayings is: “Your walk talks and your talk talks. But your walk talks louder than your talk talks.” Our walk speaks loudest when we walk difficult path. Do we gripe and complain? Do we sing and praise?

What encourages you when you’re going through a rough time?