Have you ever felt like your life trajectory has been re-written by God? You’re not alone. Paul and Silas experienced a similar type of divine re-write when they were thrown into a Roman jail. But they didn’t let that stop them from ministering. Instead, Paul and Silas doubled their efforts, singing hymns and praying for their fellow inmates.

And you know what? God showed up in a major way. The Bible tells us that a violent earthquake shook the jail to its foundation, tearing open the prison doors and shattering the shackles that held the inmates in bondage. This unexpected miracle resulted in a prison guard asking Paul, “What must I do to be saved?”

“They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.’ Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house” (Acts 16:30-32).

This story is one of those great “what if” moments. What if Paul and Silas hadn’t been thrown into jail? What if they hadn’t prayed? What if they’d just given up and thrown in the towel? Maybe this prison guard might never have come to know the loving mercy of our Triune God.

But with God, we don’t have to ask “What if.” We know that he is always working to bring all things back into communion with him, and that nothing in this world is wasted. God was faithful to turn Paul and Silas’s jail time to bring not only this prison guard to Christ, but also his entire family into relationship with God. I pray that the next time our lives are re-written, we take a moment and pray for God to allow us to participate in the marvelous things he is bringing together by his grace to contribute to his good purpose.

I’m Joseph Tkach, Speaking of LIFE.