Acts chapter 12 verses 5-7 (NIV)
So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.
Double the amount of the regular guard had been assigned to watch Peter. His close friend and fellow disciple had recently been executed by Herod, whose intention was to do the same to Peter. Yet Herod must have heard of how the disciples had previously been miraculously released, since he ensured that there were extra guards on duty. Peter knew all of this, and yet he was so sound asleep the angel had to physically wake him up. No fistful sleep here. No tossing and turning. Even in the midst of a precarious situation, Peter slept soundly and without fear. He trusted in all he had been taught and seen. He was being obedient to Jesus. Here is the perfect example of someone who could truly say, “it is well with my soul.”
Do we give all our anxieties and fears over to God and trust His hand on our life. Peter did not know how things would go here. Yet he trusted. If he faced the same fate as James, he would again be reunited with Jesus. That must have brought him great comfort.
We can trust that God knows how things will go for us too. We are not in this alone. How can we not trust Him. Let’s say too that it is well with our soul.
Dear Lord,
What a change You made in Peter through the work of the Holy Spirit. Now facing the very circumstance he feared when Jesus was arrested, he can now sleep with the peace that passes all understanding in his heart. Thank you that the same peace is available to me too. Amen.