I am always encouraged and challenged after reading this passage of Scripture about Paul and Silas. After being severely beaten and thrown into prison for their faith, they respond by praying to God and singing hymns in their cell! As demonstrated by Paul and Silas, God’s free gift of salvation is great enough to outshine any trial that we face. But how can we enter into gratitude when we may not see how God is working through the many hardships of life? One way is through fellowship with other believers.
One of my favorite experiences of worshipping with other followers of Christ occurred during a mission trip to Peru. While serving at the orphanage, we had many times of corporate worship. I’ll never forget how joyful the people there were while they were worshipping. Most of them had experienced great loss or rejection in their lives, but still, they praised God with grateful hearts. Worshipping God with others who continue to praise Him through difficulty reminds us that we all belong to the same God, and He is doing a good work in each one of our lives.