In today’s world there is so much we face in our faith journey.  Each of us has different experiences that prepare us to navigate the journey.  Some of us have been on a long winding road where many pitfalls, disappointments and heartbreaks have shattered our dreams.  We could make that list of things and circumstances where we couldn’t see the hand of God at work.  Then there are some of us where God’s faithfulness was evident all the way through our journey.  Others are somewhere in the middle. We have had our challenges and we have continued to believe and trust that God would bring us through, even if it wasn’t always in our timing.  There were many roadblocks, walls and dead ends in the course of the journey.  We have thrown our hands up many times for the same circumstance and cried out to God saying, help me, I am tired of fighting.  I have done all I can do and I surrender it to you.  Then God shows up in ways you never imagined.  All the emotions from your heart and soul pour out.  Many times what we had prayed for or desired doesn’t actually come true but God makes it so much better.    That’s the God that has carried me through my life.  I, like you, have experienced things in life that never in a million years would I have imagined.  Also, I have seen the hand of God perform miracles where it absolutely brought me to tears. 

These are our personal experiences but let’s turn now to what Peter experienced while he was freed from prison.

Acts 12:5-11

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. Then the angel said to him, "Put on your clothes and sandals." And Peter did so. "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me," the angel told him. 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. They passed the first and second guards and came to the iron gate leading to the city. It opened for them by itself, and they went through it. When they had walked the length of one street, suddenly the angel left him. Then Peter came to himself and said, "Now I know without a doubt that the LORD has sent his angel and rescued me from Herod's clutches and from everything the Jewish people were hoping would happen."

What a remarkable story!  All of the events Peter experienced were totally unexpected.  I think Peter fully anticipated to be executed but somehow he was able to sleep. He had been there for several days, and this was not the first time he had been in prison, but it is the last night before his scheduled execution. Peter is sleeping peacefully, obviously trusting that God will glorify himself either by his death or by delivering him so that he can live. Yet when the angel comes Peter is taken by surprise.

When we read this account we can see what a supernatural, amazing deliverance this was. The angel ignores the guard’s power and simply strikes the chains from Peter's arms. The guards were evidently confused or asleep. Even Peter was bewildered at the circumstances. The angel had to tell Peter what to do by leading him by the hand out into the city streets. Peter was not sure what was happening. But when he gets outside and sees the iron gate open of its own accord, he knows that God is at work, and the realization suddenly strikes him that God has indeed set him free from prison. Then we get this interesting and most human account of what happens when he comes to the church.

Following Peter’s experience he goes to the house of Mary where many have gathered for prayer. He knocks on the door and Rhoda, the maid, heard Peter’s voice but she was afraid to answer the door.  She ran back to the group to tell them of Peter’s presence but the group thought she was crazy.  There is no way it could have been Peter, he was in prison and was to be executed the next day.  The group didn’t believe how the power of prayer for Peter’s release had been heard.  Peter kept knocking and finally they opened the door and stood in amazement.  Peter said the Lord had brought him out of prison.

It is strange how weak our faith can be sometimes. These people were praying for Peter's release and I am sure they were praying in faith. They believed God would do it.  But he did it in such a remarkable, unexpected, way that no one could have imagined.  Scripture teaches us that no matter what we are facing, if it is God’s will for circumstances to change, God can change them. We are to praise God in our trials, sufferings and in all circumstances.  God is supreme above all things.  I have seen God’s miracles in my own life.  Spend some time and reflect on God’s miracles in your life.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, How do I give thanks for the many blessings you have already brought into my life?  You are amazing in your faithfulness and love to me.  It humbles me that you continue to sustain me as a child of God. You never quit on me so my heart’s desire is to never quit on you.  I love you Lord.

Amen

 

My love and prayers,

Ann