“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… Peter followed him out of the prison, but he had no idea that what the angel was doing was really happening; he thought he was seeing a vision… When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him…” (Acts 12:6-11)

As the believers in Jesus were praying for him, Peter experienced a powerful example of how our God can do the most amazing things to save and guide us. Peter’s fate was not going to be good if left in that prison. He was a dead man. God could not allow such to one of His greatest witnesses. Peter, not knowing how important he really was, patiently waited upon the Lord. If he was delivered or not, he was ready to meet that, but he would not deny his faith in Jesus. He is an amazing example of the power of God for a believer under any circumstance.

We would say that to have the peace Peter had, under those circumstances, would be a real challenge. Not really. His peace was not of his own doing but a gift of God. It was that “peace that passes understanding.” For us, life or death are determined by our God. We are not in control. And as St. Paul says in Philippians 4:13, the Amplified Bible has is right, “I can do all things (which He has called me to do) through Him who strengthens and empowers me (to fulfill His purpose — I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency; I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses me with inner strength and confident peace.)”

Heavenly Father, may You instill within us, as needed, and when needed, that same inner strength and peace that Peter had while sitting in that jail cell. Assure us that under whatever circumstances we may find ourselves that You are with us with a peace that passes understanding, and a deliverance if it be Your will.

In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Pastor Robert Forsberg is retired from Light of Christ Lutheran Church in Fairborn.