The jailer . . . was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole household.

— Acts 16:34

It wasn’t a place they would have chosen to stay for the night. Yet God chose a prison cell to be the place where Paul and Silas would share the gospel. And they were determined, despite the situation, to praise and honor God. So in the middle of the night they prayed and sang hymns to God. Then, suddenly, a great earthquake shook the prison, opened all the doors, and broke everyone’s chains! Next the story gets even more interesting. The jailer “was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted, ‘Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!’” Amazed and trembling, the jailer asked Paul and Silas about the God they served. He invited them into his house, and his whole household heard the story of Jesus. The jailer shared food and cared for them as Jesus became the center of conversation. And the whole household came to believe in God. Recently a team of volunteers was helping people clean up after a hurricane and flooding. They entered a house where a woman had not received any help and had lost hope. As they came and helped, her outlook changed. The hands and feet of Jesus were now ministering to her and others in her community. And the team was able to share the story of Jesus with them, even in the midst of their loss. How can you share the peace and love of God with someone who is struggling? 

Dear God, help us to connect with you. And where people are struggling, help us to bring hope through your message of love and peace. Amen.