Finish Line Faith, 12: No matter what you’re facing, keep singing!
By Matt Proctor*
The Apostle Paul was a singer. Remember when he and Silas were beaten and imprisoned in Philippi? I think I would be moaning and complaining, but not Paul. Acts 16:25 says, “About midnight, Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the other prisoners were listening to them.” He was singing!
Throughout his letters, scholars tell us that Paul often quoted pieces of ancient Christian hymns. His letters often include ancient prayers called doxologies, which sometimes insert themselves right in the middle of the chapter. Apparently, Paul would get so caught up in the truth he was writing that before moving on to his next point, he would just break out into musical praise.
In other words, when you feel like giving up, sing.
When my wife, Katie, and I were students in Bible college, a group of students would go eaxh Friday night to a local nursing home to visit the residents. That’s where I met Raymond. My wife had known Raymond since she was a little girl. She could remember Raymond being wheeled into church every Sunday morning.
Raymond had multiple sclerosis and was probably in his forties when I met him. His mind was sharp, but he was a prisoner in his own body. He was confined to a bed day after day in the nursing home because he could not take care of himself.
Each Friday night when Raymond saw us coming, a crooked smile would spread across his face. Katie and I would stand on either side of his ed and grab one of his hands, and through labored speech, Raymond would request that we sing the same song with him every week.
I had never heard the song before, but Katie and Raymond taught it to me. Every Friday, Raymond would smile and sing:
I’m so happy, I’m so happy
I’m so happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy, happy
I’m so happy, I’m, so happy
‘Cause Jesus is a friend of mine.
No matter how hard I thought my week had been, I never walked out of that nursing home without a song on my lips.
Paul was just like Raymond. In the midst of physical pain, heartbreak, loneliness, Paul could still sing because he sensed the companionship of Jesus.
At the end of this letter of 2 Timothy, Paul knows Jesus is near and writes, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil attack ad will bring me safely to his heavenly kingdom.”
Do you know what the next line in 2 Timothy 4:18 is? It’s a doxology: “To him be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Paul goes out singing.
If you want to stay close to Jesus, keep singing.
Especially for caregivers
• What music means the most to you as you cope with your caregiving duties?
• Spend minutes looking through some internet source for Christian music that could lift your soul. Listen to it at least a few minutes every day this week. At the end of that time, take note of how it affects your spirit. — M.T.
Read: 2 Timothy 4:16-18
Pray: Forgive me, Lord, if I’ve let the pressure of caregiving, squeeze the song out of my life. Thank you, Lord, for the comfort and peace and joy and hope that comes to me just by singing about you and your great love.
Editor’s note: The brief excerpts from Matt Proctor’s book we’ve posted the last several weeks only begin to convey the impact of the whole book. Do yourself a favor, follow the link below, and get a copy of Finish Line Faith for yourself. Better yet, read it with your whole group. You’ll laugh, you’ll think, you’ll grow. What could be better?
* This devotion is adapted with permission from a new book by Matt Proctor, president of Ozark Christian College (Joplin, Missouri) (c) 2024. Finish Line Faith is a 12-week study of 2 Timothy perfect for any group or Bible study, and this devotion gives only a taste of the down-to-earth encouragement it provides. Click here for information on ordering copies for yourself or your group.