“And when they had laid many strips upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely: Who, having received such a charge, thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s hands were loosed” (Acts 16:23-26).

Paul and Silas was stripped, beaten and thrown into a dungeon in Philippi.  Instead of feeling sorry for themselves they began to sing praises unto God in spite of their circumstance.  They tapped into the joy of the Lord, which was their strength. Nehemiah 8:10 says, “….And be not grieved and depressed, for the joy of the Lord is your strength and stronghold” (Amplified). 

God knows the pain, the heartache, the abuse suffered, the brokenness of our lives, the feelings of disappointments, discouragement and unworthiness.  He knows what it feels like because Jesus was also touched by our infirmities. We need to rest in Him and know He will never leave or forsake us, but hold us close and see us through every situation.