The peace of God transcends all understanding
Do you enjoy watching action comedies? The kind where the characters do everything differently than you would’ve done, and it turns out hilarious.
When I read the story of Peter’s miraculous escape from prison in Acts 12 and picture each scene as it unfolds, it kind of reminds me of an action-comedy movie.
For starters, Peter is fast asleep the night before he’s scheduled to be publicly executed (Acts 12:6).
If that were me, I’d be on my knees all night, praying! But Peter seems almost oblivious to the danger he’s in.
Then an angel appears. The whole cell lights up… but he still does not wake up. It isn’t until the angel strikes Peter (I wonder how hard?? 🤔) that he finally wakes up (Acts 12:7).
I love Peter’s confidence here. The fact that he can sleep soundly on what should’ve been the most troubling night of his life shows me that he had perfect peace and complete trust in God. Peter had no reason to assume he’d be rescued. Just verses earlier, we read how Herod, the same King who had Peter arrested, had James killed by the sword (Acts 12:1-2). For all Peter knew, he was next.
Peter’s peace didn’t come from knowing everything would be ok, but from putting his trust in Jesus and trusting that God is in control, regardless of the outcome. Peter had the kind of peace described by Paul in Philippians 4:7 NIV:
The peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The same peace is available to you as well, and Paul tells us how to receive it:
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. – Philippians 4:6 NIV
