(2) Strength in Suffering Series
One of the themes of birth is suffering. Movie-makers didn’t come up with this; suffering tied to birth originates with God. Why? What is it about birth that brings pain and travail? The first time the idea of pain in birth is mentioned is in Genesis, when God tells Eve, “I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing…” (Genesis 3:16ESV). He also tells her in pain she will bring forth children. Both of these statements clearly indicate that birth and suffering are tied together on this earth. It was at the point that Eve sinned that this pain-in-birth punishment came 
into being. Perhaps God was foreshadowing the pain He would go through to bring forth His Church, to bring His children out of sin and into new life.
The birth of the church at Philippi begins with suffering. Their origin is told in Acts after Paul is given a vision of a man of Macedonia pleading for help. Philippi was Macedonia’s capital city. Paul and Silas suffered terribly for bringing the truth to Philippi. Luke’s account tells of a slave girl with a demon in the city. This demon daily announced to everyone as Paul passed by that Paul and his companions were servants of the Most High. The demon wasn’t trying to help Christ’s cause, so Paul commanded the demon to come out of the girl, which enraged her owners. They put the city in a foment. They brought Paul and Silas to the city officials, who immediately stripped their clothes off their backs and beat them publicly. Based on false information given about them by the owners of the slave girl, Paul and Silas were perceived, at best, as public nuisances and, more seriously, as Jews going against the Roman law—a criminal offense.
Being maligned for doing the right thing is still one of the greatest concerns, or fears, of Christians today. We aren’t always aware of this fear, yet, when faced with public disgrace—or public disapproval—many back down and renounce what they know to be the truth. Paul and Silas were maligned and disgraced—not by God, but by those who did not love God. The city of Philippi came against them. And entire city was accusing them and demanding that they be punished.
Paul and Silas were escorted to the prison, where they were placed in an inner cell with their feet held fast in the stocks for hours. They were treated like criminals because the city officials actually believed them to be criminals. They had no idea how long their imprisonment would be, how long their torn backs would fester, or how long they would have to endure having their limbs held and twisted into a wrenching position. They had no idea that the hours they spent in suffering would result in the salvation of many souls, including their jailer and his household!
Luke says that at midnight they prayed and sang praises to God. We know two things from this situation. First, we know they were suffering (1Thessalonians 2:2). It’s important not to reject that fact. They were in pain and torment, having no idea what was coming next. They didn’t know if it would get worse before i
t got better. Second, they knew God was with them. God made it clear from the vision He gave to Paul that He wanted His servant there in Philippi to preach Christ’s living way.
The advice God gives us from the experience of these suffering Christians is:
When you are in agony, pray.
When you are pinned fast and there is nothing you can do to change your circumstances, sing.
Do it right when you’re suffering. Do it because you’re suffering! Is it midnight? Any time is the perfect time to focus on your love for God and your gratitude. You don’t know what’s coming next, but no matter what happens in this life, you are bound for a better one.
There are times that I wake in the night in pain. I used to spend that time trying to go back to sleep. Sometimes those hours in the night or in the early morning are invitations to spend time with God. As you sit up with your pain, visit with God. Pray or sing or let God talk to you through His word. Psalm 121:3-4 tells us He’s not sleeping; he’s up with you.
Paul and his fellow workers experienced violent abuse and unwarranted shame while establishing the Church at Philippi. From suffering came something wonderful, the birth of the Church in a new city that needed God. When you follow God, He promises something wonderful is going to emerge from your pain, too.
Read on: Burden of Guilt