About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was an earthquake, so violent that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone’s chains unfastened. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, since he supposed that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted in a loud voice, "Do not harm yourself, for we are all here." The jailer called for lights, and rushing in, he fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them outside and said, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They answered, "Believe on the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and your household." They spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in his house. At the same hour of the night he took them and washed their wounds; then he and his entire family were baptized without delay. He brought them up into the house and set food before them; and he and his entire household rejoiced that he had become a believer in God.

Acts 16:25-34

Paul and Silas had ruined the ability of a demon-possessed girl to be a sideshow. They faced an angry crowd and furious judges for praising Jesus Christ as Lord. They received a whipping and imprisonment and their feet were locked in stocks. Through all that the Spirit was with them. And when the earthquake came, they were still motivated by a desire to obey God and spread the message of Christ. Like them, we can rise above our own mood swings prompted by our circumstances. By being strong in the Spirit, we can overcome the gloom index.

God’s Son can brighten our darkest days.

Our Daily Bread – November 12, 2004