It is possible for us to grow to such a point in our faith as to rest in times of trouble knowing that God is in control of our life as we follow Christ on this journey from earth to glory.  He is directing our steps.  He is making a way where there seems to be no way.

For the early followers of Christ there was a season after Saul became a Christ follower (Acts 9) in which they experienced a freedom from oppression and persecution brought on by the religionists of their day.  It would not last long though.  King Herod Agrippa I, the grandson of the King Herod of Jesus’ birth, in order to gain favor with the Jews began to observe their ways and practice their law.  He had heard them complain of Christ followers spreading the message of Christ and how it threatened their religious tradition.  He decided to display his hand of power against the radical Christ followers in order to win more favor with those who were merely religious.

About that time Herod the king laid violent hands on some who belonged to the church. He killed James the brother of John with the sword, and when he saw that it pleased the Jews, he proceeded to arrest Peter also. This was during the days of Unleavened Bread. And when he had seized him, he put him in prison, delivering him over to four squads of soldiers to guard him, intending after the Passover to bring him out to the people. So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. Now when Herod was about to bring him out, on that very night, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries before the door were guarding the prison. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood next to him, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him, saying, "Get up quickly." And the chains fell off his hands. And the angel said to him, "Dress yourself and put on your sandals." And he did so. And he said to him, "Wrap your cloak around you and follow me." And he went out and followed him. He did not know that what was being done by the angel was real, but thought he was seeing a vision. When they had passed the first and the second guard, they came to the iron gate leading into the city. It opened for them of its own accord, and they went out and went along one street, and immediately the angel left him. When Peter came to himself, he said, "Now I am sure that the Lord has sent his angel and rescued me from the hand of Herod and from all that the Jewish people were expecting."
(Acts 12:1-11 ESV)

James here is the disciple of Jesus, son of Zebedee and brother of John, not to be confused with James, brother of Jesus and author of the book of James in the New Testament.  James, John and Peter made up the inner circle of Jesus’ disciples while He ministered on earth.  Why James would die and Peter escape is a mystery of divine providence.  Peter still had much to accomplish as he would author two epistles of the New Testament.  James would complete His mission and be the first of the disciples to join the glorified Christ.

After Herod Agrippa I saw that beheading James pleased the people, he decided to do the same to Peter and He had him put in prison.  Because Herod was now observing the Jewish law and trying to win favor with the people, he would not put Peter to death during the Passover season.  He would wait until afterward and do to Peter in front of all the people what he had already done to James.  In the meantime, he would hold Peter prisoner and make it impossible for him to escape or be freed by assigning four squads of soldiers to guard him.  Each squad consisted of four Roman soldiers and each squad would have a six hour shift.  Two soldiers would be chained to either side of him and two soldiers would guard the door.  There was seemingly no way Peter would be able to escape.

Notice what the followers of Christ did.  They prayed for Peter, but it was not a half hearted prayer mouthed through sleepy lips.  It was earnest prayer.  The oppressive hand of Herod was powerful, but not as powerful as earnest prayer that releases divine power that destroys strongholds and sets the captive free (2 Corinthians 10:3-5).  Beloved, earnestly pray for those you know that are held captive by their troubles.  Prayer is our spiritual weapon.  Pray earnestly. 

What catches my attention the most today from these paragraphs of Scripture is what Peter was doing in the midst of his troubles.  He was asleep.  That is an indication that his faith had grown to a point where he was able to rest in the midst of his troubles.  He could not always do that, but now his faith had grown to a point where he could.  He trusted God fully and understood that God was in control of his life as he followed Christ.  He was at peace.  He did not fear death as he realized that to be absent from the body would mean that He would be present with our Lord (2 Corinthians 5:8).

Beloved, I believe that is the faith God desires to develop in each of us.  It’s a faith that will inspire our earnest prayers for those that are held captive by their troubling situations and seemingly hopeless circumstances.  It’s a faith that allows us to rest in the middle of the greatest storm that life brings our way knowing that God is in control and He can either calm the storm or get us through it. 

Supernatural deliverance came to Peter that night.  It was an undeniable miracle that happened in a fashion in which no person could take the glory.  It was all God.  Peter rested.  God delivered.  

Beloved, allow your faith in God to produce that same rest in you today.  God knows the difficulty that you are in.  He knows what you are going through.  He has lifted up others who are praying earnestly for you.  He will make a way where there seems to be no way.  He will make the impossible possible.  Trust Him.  Rest in Him.  He will do the rest.

Know that you are loved,
gaj