Journey

by Jennifer Greene-Sullivan

Today, I painted a watercolor that I titled Journey. Three small plants emerge from the soil beneath beams of golden light. The first struggles through rocky ground while the second bends beneath the weight of growth. The third stands a little taller; its roots reach deeper as it stretches toward the light.

As I painted, I realized the picture was not really about plants at all. It was about the hidden work God performs in every believer long before visible growth appears. The rocky soil reminded me of hardship, disappointment, grief, and uncertainty. The roots represented the unseen work of God, while the light reminded me that His presence remains constant even when I cannot see His hand.

Most of us want the harvest. We want the flower, the fruit, and the finished testimony, yet God often chooses to work underground before He works above ground. Roots grow in hidden places, and so do faith, trust, and perseverance.

The longer I walk with Christ, the more I appreciate the seasons no one sees. Those quiet places often feel lonely while we are living through them. We wonder whether God is moving at all. Then one day, we discover He has been growing something beneath the surface the entire time.

As I studied the painting, my thoughts drifted to Paul and Silas sitting in a prison cell. At first glance, they appeared to be the captives. Their backs were bruised from beatings, their feet were fastened in stocks, and iron bars surrounded them. Freedom seemed impossible from a human perspective, yet around midnight, Paul and Silas began to pray and sing hymns to God.

They were not worshipping because the prison doors had opened or because their circumstances had improved. In fact, they had no reason to believe relief was coming. They worshipped because Jesus was, is, and will ever be WORTHY!

WORSHIP!!

The older I become, the more convinced I am that worship is one of the greatest demonstrations of freedom. Anyone can praise God after the miracle arrives. Anyone can rejoice after the chains fall away. Faith worships while the chains are still attached.

When the earthquake came, the foundations of the prison shook. The doors opened, the chains fell away, and every prisoner had an opportunity to run, but Paul and Silas did something remarkable. They stayed.

For years, I read that passage and focused on the prisoners. Recently, however, I found myself looking at the jailer. He possessed the keys, held the authority, and walked in and out of the prison whenever he pleased. Yet when he believed the prisoners had escaped, he was ready to take his own life.

Paul and Silas appeared captive, yet they were free. The jailer appeared free, yet he was imprisoned. He was bound by fear, hopelessness, and spiritual darkness despite having authority over everyone in the prison. In that moment, the true captive was not sitting behind bars.

The captives were already free because Jesus said they were. Simple as that–Jesus says they were free.

BUT…

The captor had no idea he needed liberation.

That realization stopped me in my tracks. How many people around us appear successful, powerful, and free while quietly living in bondage? How many smile in public while carrying fear, shame, loneliness, or despair behind closed doors? We often assume freedom is determined by circumstances when Scripture teaches something entirely different.

Paul and Silas did not stay because they enjoyed prison. They stayed because love stayed. They remained long enough for the jailer to encounter the same freedom they had already found in Christ. Their worship had liberated their hearts long before the earthquake liberated their bodies.

As I look back at my painting, I notice something else. None of the plants have reached maturity. None of them are blooming. The journey is still unfolding, and the unfolding is why I love the painting so much.

The roots are still reaching deeper. The light is still shining. God is still growing something. The journey continues.

Like Paul and Silas, I want to learn how to worship the Savior regardless of my circumstances. I want to be so convinced of my freedom in Christ that whether the prison doors open or remain shut, my heart remains fixed on Him. True freedom is not found in the absence of chains. True freedom is found in the presence of Jesus.

Ultimately, the greatest miracle in Acts 16 was not the earthquake at all. The greatest miracle was that two men were already free before it happened.

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Scriptural Focus

Acts 16:25-26 (ESV)

“About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken.”

John 8:36 (ESV)

“So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”

2 Corinthians 3:17 (ESV)

“Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.”

Reflection

Freedom is one of the most misunderstood words in our culture; unfortunately, we often define it by circumstances, possessions, opportunities, or the absence of difficulty. Scripture presents a different picture. Freedom begins when we belong to Christ.

Paul and Silas understood that truth. Their worship was not dependent upon their surroundings because their identity was secure in Jesus. Long before the prison doors opened, their hearts were already free. The same invitation is extended to us today. We may not control our circumstances, but we can choose where we place our trust. When Jesus Christ is our source of peace, worship becomes an act of faith rather than a response to comfort.

Challenge

Consider an area of your life where you feel confined, discouraged, or frustrated. Have you been waiting for God to change your circumstances before you worship Him?

This week, choose to praise God in the middle of that situation. Worship before the answer arrives. Trust Him before the doors open. Then watch how God strengthens your faith in the process.

Prayer

Father,

Thank You for the freedom that is found in Jesus Christ. Forgive me for the times I allow my circumstances to determine my joy, my peace, or my worship. Teach me to trust You in every season and to praise You whether the prison doors open or remain shut. Strengthen my roots in the hidden places where faith grows. Help me remember that You are always working, even when I cannot see the evidence. May my life point others toward the freedom that can only be found in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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