We don't normally think of good things happening
in jail.
But for some reason this morning I recalled that:
Paul wrote four of his epistles from prison--Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon.
And... the Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation while banished to the Isle of Patmos...
which was like an ancient, oversized
version of Alcatraz.
Also... there's John Bunyan, who wrote his classic Pilgrim's Progress during a 12 year prison stay.
And, of course, there's Martin Luther King, Jr. ... who wrote his 'Letter from a Birmingham Jail.'
Now as I thought of these instances -- and I know there are more that could be mentioned -- I was
encouraged.
They reminded me that light can come from dark places.
Which is good news... because sometimes when we experience our own periods of darkness -- for whatever reason -- it seems like we're in a prison...
From where no good can come.
When we are there, we ask, "Why am I
here?"
And there's rarely a satisfying answer.
... And it's probably because it's the wrong question.
It's far better to ask when stuck in a gloomy place, "How can I advance God's Kingdom while I'm here?"
Why... I believe... if we ask that question, He will not fail to answer
us...
And we'll be in a position to bring some light out of the dark place we're in.
Are you in a dark place today?
God may show you things there... and use you in ways there... He couldn't anywhere else.