Down and Up

“The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage!  As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome.’” Acts 23:11

Paul had plenty of reasons for being down.  He had assaulted, arrested, and almost flogged.  At an assembly where the Roman commander “wanted to find out exactly why Paul was being accused by the Jews”(Acts 22:30), the high priest had given orders to strike Paul in the mouth because he had said, “I have fulfilled my duty to God in all good conscience to this day”(Acts 23:1).  When Paul had declared that he stood on trial because of his hope in the resurrection of the dead, the meeting had turned to chaos.  His comment had been quite clever since Paul had known that two groups with opposing views of life after death were both present.  “A house divided cannot stand,” and the rift over theology had caused an eruption.  “The dispute became so violent that the commander was afraid Paul would be torn to pieces by them.  He ordered the troops to go down and take him away by force and bring him into the barracks”(Acts 23:10).

Alone in the barracks, uncertain of the future and unsure of his fate, Paul, the great missionary and amazing apostle, did what real people do—he got down.  And our awesome God did what a real God does—He showed up to lift Paul up.  “The following night the Lord stood near Paul and said, ‘Take courage!  As you have testified about me in Jerusalem, so you must also testify in Rome’”(Acts 23:11).  When Paul felt lonely, the Lord stood near.  When Paul was afraid, the Lord calmed his fears.  “Take courage,” God said. “I’m up to something good.”   Paul was in those barracks because God had a bigger purpose than Paul had plans.  God wanted the gospel taken to Rome, and this arrest and ruckus was His way of getting Paul there.

When you find yourself in the barracks of life, uncertain of the future and unsure of your fate, take courage.  You are never alone, for God stands near.  When you are afraid, He will calm your fear.  God’s purpose is bigger than your plans, and He wants you to share His truth all along the way.

When you get down, know that God is up to something good. 
And let Him take you there.